Texas Rangers Bullpen Blows Another Lead to Reds
Another late lead.
Another bullpen meltdown.
Texas Rangers relievers couldn’t hold a big lead for the second consecutive night, as the Cincinnati Reds rallied late to win 7-6 Tuesday night at Great American Ballpark.
The score wasn’t the only thing that was the same in the second game of the series. The Rangers once again squandered a multi-run edge, though this time it felt worse.
Texas was up 6-1 going into the eighth with Cole Ragans on mound. The Reds peppered the Rangers for five hits and scored six times. Ragans also walked and hit a batter. Ian Kennedy, who came in with two outs and the bases loaded, gave up two hits to score the final four runs.
The bullpen was also victimized Monday, as Dane Dunning and José Leclerc couldn’t shut the door after Nathan Eovaldi exited with the lead. This time it was Martin Pérez who saw a victory wash away.
The loss for the American League West-leading Rangers (14-9) means their series winning streak ends at three. Texas also dropped to 6-5 on the road.
The Rangers were up 5-1 and 6-0, respectively, in the first two games against the Reds.
Pérez worked 6 1/3 innings, giving up just one run and striking out five. The lefty gave up six hits and only walked one, while lowering his ERA to 2.60.
And much as the Rangers did for Eovaldi, the offense backed Pérez. Marcus Semien, Nathaniel Lowe and Josh Smith each cranked solo home runs. Josh Jung, who homered twice Monday, added a two-run double.
The Rangers hope to salvage one game Wednesday with Jon Gray (1-1, 3.72) starting. Graham Ashcraft (2-0, 1.88) goes for 9-15 Cincinnati. First pitch is scheduled for 11:35 a.m.
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