Texas Rangers Swept by Reds in Walk-Off

The Texas Rangers were swept by the struggling Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday after losing in walk-off fashion for the second time in the series.

Despite starter Jon Gray reaching 1,000 career strikeouts, the Texas Rangers were swept by the Cincinnati Reds with a 5-3 loss on Tuesday at Great American Ballpark.

Cincinnati (10-15) won it on Nick Senzel's two-run, walk-off homer in the bottom of the ninth off right-hander Jonathan Hernández.

The Rangers (14-10) have lost three in row and were swept for the first time this season. Gray reached a career milestone but his quality start didn't end in a win with the Rangers held in check by Reds starter Graham Ashcraft.

Texas third baseman Josh Jung and outfielder Travis Jankowski exited the game after getting hit by a pitch on the hand and diving awkwardly for a ball, respectively. 

Both have been productive cogs in the offensive machine Texas has put together and their absence was felt on Wednesday afternoon. 

Two of the Rangers' three runs of the day came in the fifth inning when Nathaniel Lowe recorded an RBI-double to score Marcus Semien and Adolis García notched a sac fly to score Leody Taveras. 

Perhaps the most encouraging performance was that of right-hander Josh Sborz. After two-straight days of the bullpen blowing late leads, Sborz turned in two scoreless innings. 

Texas tied the game 3-3 in the top of the ninth. Jonah Heim led off with a double and replaced with pinch runner Bubba Thompson, who scored on Brad Miller's sac fly. 

Senzel's first home run of the season gave Hernández his first loss. The Reds also won the series opener 7-6 in walk-off fashion.

The Rangers play host to the New York Yankees in a four-game series at Globe Life Field beginning Thursday. Andrew Heaney (2-1, 4.34) will take the mound for Texas and is slated to face Yankees ace Gerrit Cole (4-0, 0.79 ERA).

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You can find Kade Kistner on Twitter @KadeKistner.

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