Rangers End Eight-Game Slide in Dramatic Fashion
The Texas Rangers finally put an end to their season-worst eight-game losing streak Wednesday night, toppling the Minnesota Twins 4-2 in Arlington thanks to a vintage performance from ace Jacob deGrom and clutch hitting from Josh Smith and Billy McKinney.
deGrom Delivers in Milestone Start
Jacob deGrom, making his 30th start of the season for the first time since 2019, was electric on the mound. Despite giving up a leadoff home run to Byron Buxton—a 447-foot blast for Buxton’s career-high 32nd homer—deGrom settled in, allowing just one more hit and a walk while striking out nine over five innings. He wrapped up his season with a 12-8 record and a sparkling 2.97 ERA, cementing his status as one of the game’s elite pitchers.
“Simple Man” played over the speakers as deGrom exited, a fitting tribute to his workmanlike approach and consistency throughout a challenging season for the Rangers.
Seventh-Inning Surge Breaks the Deadlock
The game was knotted at 1-1 heading into the seventh, but the Rangers’ offense came alive. Ezequiel Duran singled and stole second, setting the stage for Billy McKinney’s go-ahead RBI single. McKinney advanced to second on the throw home, and Jonah Heim’s single put runners at the corners. A wild pitch allowed McKinney to score, and another wild pitch from Twins reliever Génesis Cabrera made it 4-1 Rangers.
Josh Smith also played hero, launching his 10th home run of the season—a leadoff shot in the fourth that tied the game and energized the home crowd.
Twins’ Power Not Enough
Despite Buxton’s early fireworks and Royce Lewis’ RBI single in the eighth, the Twins couldn’t muster enough offense against the Rangers’ bullpen. Robert Garcia earned the win with two scoreless innings, and Phil Maton closed the door in the ninth for his fifth save.
What’s Next: Series Finale Looms
The teams will face off again Thursday afternoon in the rubber match, with Twins right-hander Bailey Ober (5-9, 5.32 ERA) set to duel Rangers righty Tyler Mahle (6-3, 2.20 ERA). Both squads are looking to finish the series strong as the regular season winds down.
Expert Takeaways
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deGrom’s durability this season has been a rare bright spot for the Rangers, especially as injuries and losing streaks have plagued the team.
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Minnesota’s offense remains dangerous, but their inability to capitalize on opportunities cost them in this matchup.
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Rangers fans finally have something to cheer about after a tough stretch, and the team will look to build momentum heading into their final games.
Future Implications
With the Rangers officially eliminated from playoff contention, the focus shifts to evaluating young talent and planning for next season. For the Twins, every game matters as they jockey for postseason positioning.
Sources
1. Minnesota Twins vs. Texas Rangers Results, Stats, and Recap
2. Official Texas Rangers Website | MLB.com
3. deGrom wraps special season on 30th start, lowing ERA to 2.97
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5. 80-78 - Rangers end skid with 4-2 win over Twins
6. Sports Betting Lines Online | Best Betting Scores and Odds - Lines ...
7. Strong finale from deGrom helps Rangers top Twins 4-2, stop 8 ...
8. [PDF] CAPE CORAL BREEZE - UFDC Image Array 2
9. Minnesota Twins at Texas Rangers Game Story, Scores/Highlights
