Inside The Rangers

It's Getting Real! Texas Rangers Sweep Rays, Win 6th Straight

The Texas Rangers have their longest win streak since 2019 after sweeping the Tampa Bay Rays.
Stefan Stevenson|
Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

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Texas RangersTampa Bay Rays

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers are officially streaking.

The club won its sixth consecutive game, sweeping the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays with a 5-1 win Wednesday afternoon at Globe Life Field.

It's the Rangers' longest win streak since they won six straight in June 2019. 

The Rangers (58-39) have a 4 1/2-game lead on the Houston Astros atop the AL West.

Texas has matched its best 97-game start with the 2012 club and is 6-0 after the All-Star Break for the first time since 1977.

The Rays (60-39) dropped percentage points behind the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East.

Leody Taveras homered in the third and drove in a huge insurance run in the seventh before Jonah Heim's three-run homer in the eighth broke the game open.

The Rangers bullpen pitched 4 1/3 scoreless innings after starter Jon Gray was forced to leave with a bruised left shin when he was hit by a batted ball in the fifth inning.

Rangers 5, Rays 1

Double the Fun!

Jonah Heim's double in the fourth gave the Rangers 27 consecutive games with a double. It's tied for the second-longest streak in club history with 2015 team. The club record is 34 consecutive games with a double in 1996.

Gray Leaves Game with Injury

Rangers starting pitcher Jon Gray left the game after taking a 112 mph batted ball off his left foot in the fifth inning. The Rays had two runners on and one out at the time. After taking a few practice pitches, the Rangers chose to replace him with Brock Burke. Burke forced two flyouts to center to end the inning.

Gray was diagnosed with a bruised left shin. X-rays were negative.

Alex Speas Makes Debut

Right-handed reliever Alex Speas, who was called up from Triple-A Round Rock before Wednesday's game, made his MLB debut in the seventh. He replaced Brock Burke with one on and one out with the Rangers leading 1-0. Speas, 25, struck out pinch-hitter Wander Franco swinging on a full count and catcher Jonah Heim threw out Manuel Margot trying to steal second to end the inning.

Speas pitched a perfect eighth, including two strikeouts. He topped out at 98 mph. 

Up Next

The Rangers are off Thursday before starting a three-game series with the Los Angeles Dodgers at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Globe Life Field. The Dodgers also have an off day after taking two of three in Baltimore.

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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Stefan Stevenson
STEFAN STEVENSON

Stefan Stevenson worked as a journalist and editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for 25 years, covering sports, concerts, and general news. His beats have included the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, and Texas Christian University football.

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