The Royals defeated the Rangers 6-3 on June 19, 2025, as Maikel Garcia's 3-run homer spoiled a 13-hit night for Texas. One bad inning doomed the Rangers.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a night that started with so much promise and ended in familiar frustration. The Texas Rangers jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead against the Kansas City Royals, looking poised to snap their brief losing streak. But a disastrous third inning, capped by a three-run homer, flipped the script entirely, sending the Rangers to a 6-3 defeat and leaving fans wondering what could have been.
The Rangers were 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position but stranded nine runners.
The game was Texas's to lose after the first inning. An RBI double from Wyatt Langford and a run-scoring single by Adolis García had Globe Life Field buzzing. But the momentum vanished in the top of the third. The Royals stormed back with a four-run frame against starter Patrick Corbin, with Maikel Garcia delivering the decisive blow—a three-run shot that silenced the crowd. Garcia was a thorn in the Rangers' side all night, finishing with three hits and four RBIs. For Corbin, who took the loss, it was a solid outing undone by one crooked number.
Despite the loss, there were glimmers of hope at the plate. Sam Haggerty tied his career-high with three hits, and the team collected 13 hits in total. The problem wasn't getting runners on; it was getting them home. The final tally of nine runners left on base tells the story of missed opportunities. Going 5-for-13 with runners in scoring position looks decent on paper, but it was the failure to get the one big hit to reclaim the lead that ultimately cost them the game.
The loss drops the Rangers to 36-38 on the season, keeping them in fourth place in a tight AL West. What was a promising four-game win streak has now been erased by two straight losses. The team's efforts were also hampered by the absence of infielder Josh Smith, who missed his second consecutive game with a minor hamstring issue. While he remains day-to-day, his steady presence is clearly missed in the lineup.
It's a quick turnaround for the series finale, and the Rangers are rolling the dice with a bullpen game. Right-hander Shawn Armstrong gets the ball first, tasked with setting the tone against Kansas City's Michael Wacha. This isn't just about avoiding a sweep; it's about stopping this two-game skid before it snowballs and proving they can execute when it matters most. A win tomorrow would go a long way in steadying the ship.
