The Rangers' win streak ends as Jacob deGrom gives up 3 HRs in a 6-4 loss to the Angels on July 29. See how the long ball doomed Texas in Anaheim.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
All good things must come to an end, and for the Texas Rangers, that meant their sizzling six-game winning streak. The party came to a halt Tuesday night in Anaheim, as a trio of home runs off an uncharacteristically hittable Jacob deGrom powered the Angels to a 6-4 victory, reminding everyone just how tough life in the AL West can be.
'Jake just missed a couple of spots, and they made him pay. He battled, but the long ball hurt us tonight.' - Manager Bruce Bochy
The main story of the night was the surprising struggle of Jacob deGrom. After a dominant July, the Rangers' ace looked mortal, surrendering three home runs in a game for the first time all season. Kevin Newman, Taylor Ward, and Luis Rengifo all took him deep, accounting for the bulk of the damage. While deGrom still managed to strike out eight batters over six innings, the five earned runs he allowed bloated his ERA to 2.55 and snapped his streak of five consecutive quality starts. As Manager Bruce Bochy noted postgame, it was a night of small mistakes with big consequences.
Despite the loss, the offense didn't go down without a fight. Corey Seager was a bright spot, going 2-for-4 with an RBI double, continuing his steady production. The biggest bang came from Adolis García, who launched his 14th home run of the season, a solo shot in the 7th. 'El Bombi' now has 59 RBIs on the year, leading the team, and has homered in back-to-back games. The Rangers even mounted a serious threat in the eighth inning, bringing the tying run to second base before the rally was extinguished. It was a frustrating 'what if,' but a sign that the team's grinding mentality remains intact.
While the major league club took a loss, the bigger picture remains in focus. There were no trades today, but with the deadline approaching, the front office is reportedly monitoring the market for bullpen arms. Bochy's postgame comments about needing better execution from the relief corps only add fuel to that fire. Meanwhile, down on the farm, the future continues to look bright. Top prospect Evan Carter smashed his 18th homer for Triple-A Round Rock, and Jack Leiter put together another strong start for Frisco with eight strikeouts. It's a great reminder that even on a tough night, the organization is loaded with talent for today and tomorrow.
Losing is never fun, especially when it snaps a long winning streak. But one loss doesn't define a season. The Rangers (56-51) are still right in the thick of the AL West race. The key now is to shake this one off, get a better performance from the bullpen, and start a new streak tomorrow. With the trade deadline just days away, the next 48 hours could be just as crucial off the field as they are on it. Buckle up, Rangers fans.
