Finally! Texas Rangers Take Twins Gifts In 9th, Snap 8-Game Losing Streak

The Texas Rangers scored four runs in the ninth to snap a season-worst eight-game losing streak.

Our long Texas Rangers nightmare is over.

Robbie Grossman walked with the bases loaded to drive in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as the Texas Rangers snapped their season-worst, eight-game losing streak with a 6-2 win over the Minnesota Twins Saturday at Target Field. 

Grossman, who fell behind in the count 0-2, worked the game-winning walk against Griffin Jax, who also walked Leody Taveras with the bases still loaded to give the Rangers a two-run lead.

Marcus Semien hit by a pitch to drive in a third run before Corey Seager's sacrifice fly to center made it 6-2. The Rangers sent nine batters to the plate in the inning, with Adolis Garcia and Mitch Garver starting the inning with singles before Travis Jankowski struck out and Ezequiel Duran was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Aroldis Chapman pitched a scoreless ninth to earn the win.

Solo home runs from Garver in the second and Garcia in the sixth gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. But Scherzer, who had retired the previous seven batters, surrendered a homer to Jorge Polanco in the bottom of the sixth to tie it at 2-2.

With the win, the Rangers (73-56), stay tied with the Seattle Mariners atop the AL West and a game ahead of the Houston Astros. Both the Mariners and Astros won earlier Saturday.

Ranges 6, Twins 2

Baserunning Blunders

The Rangers were thrown out three times on the bases in Saturday's game. Ezequiel Duran was thrown out at home on Robbie Grossman's double after Duran slowed down rounding third in the second inning.

In the fifth, with Corey Seager at the plate, Leody Taveras was thrown out trying to steal third base for the second out of the inning. Marcus Semien was on first at the time. Seager grounded out to end the inning.

In the eighth, Semien was caught trying to steal second by catcher Christian Vazquez on Nathaniel Lowe's strikeout to end the inning.

Streaks of Eight

The Rangers have won eight consecutive games and lost eight consecutive games this August, the first time in franchise history they've had such streaks in the same month. 

It's the sixth time in franchise history that the club has had streaks of eight wins and eight losses in the same season. They also did it in 1976, 1991, 2002, 2003, and 2005.

Scherzer Shines Again

Starter Max Scherzer made his fifth start for the Rangers and was back on his game after a rough last outing. He allowed two runs on four hits and a walk and struck out 10 in seven innings. He left with the game tied 2-2. Since joining the Rangers, Scherzer is 3-1 with a 2.66 ERA with 40 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings. He's allowed 16 hits and 10 walks.

Up Next

Rangers left-hander Jordan Montgomery (8-10, 3.12) faces Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (6-6, 3.41) at 1:10 p.m. Sunday in the series finale at Target Field. The Rangers start a three-game series against the New York Mets at 6:10 p.m. Monday at Citi Field.

---

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

Catch up with Inside the Rangers on Facebook, Twitter, TikTok and Instagram.