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The Texas Rangers continued a ten-game road trip last week for two series against division rivals Seattle Mariners and Oakland A’s. They began the week with a record of 50-49 and were mired in a 7-game losing streak. The week did not begin well.

Seattle Mariners

Monday July 22nd

Monday night saw them lose for the eighth time in a row as they fell 7-3. Texas was up 2-0 going into the bottom of the second. Seattle scored three to take the lead. Rangers’ starter Adrian Sampson went 5 1/3 innings, giving up six earned runs on 8 hits.

Rangers’ star: Rougned Odor. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and one RBI.

Tuesday July 23rd

The Rangers finally snapped their losing streak in a 7-2 victory. Pedro Payano was impressive in his first career start, if you can technically call it that, for Texas as he went 5 innings (Brett Martin was the opening pitcher) and allowed just one run on three hits while striking out seven.

Rangers’ star: Rougned Odor. He was 3-for-4 with three RBI and two home runs.

Wednesday July 24th

Texas lost 5-3. Mike Minor, who has been involved in a lot of trade discussions, was off his game allowing five runs (four earned) over six innings.

Rangers’s star: Again it was Odor. He was only 1-for-4 but had a three-run homer.

Oakland A’s

Thursday July 25th

The Rangers won 11-3 behind a gutsy performance from starter Ariel Jurado. He was shaky in the first inning allowing three runs but that was all the A’s could muster. Jurado finished the game by going seven innings and allowing just three hits while striking out seven.

Rangers’ star: Danny Santana. Santana went 3-for-5 with six RBI and a double and home run.

Friday July 26th

Lance Lynn tossed six innings, allowing two runs (one earned while striking out eight as Texas won their second in a row by a score of 5-2.

Rangers’ star: It was a tie between Asdrubal Cabrera who went 3-for-4 with two RBI and Willie Calhoun who went 2-for-3 with two RBI, a home run and sis total bases.

Saturday July 27th

This was not Texas’ starter Adran Sampson’s best start as he went six innings but allowed five runs while giving up four home runs as Texas fell 5-4.

Rangers’ star: Danny Santana who went 2-for-5 with two RBI and a triple.

Sunday July 28th

The Rangers lost their second in a row, in one of the most deflating ways possible, by a score of 6-5. Pedro Payano went 5 1/3 innings allowing three runs on six hits. Texas made a comeback and led the game 5-4 going into the bottom of the ninth. Jose Leclerc came and lasted 1/3 of an inning allowing two runs on two hits and three walks including the game winning bases loaded walk to Khris Davis.

Rangers’s star: This was a tie between Danny Santana (3-for-4, RBI, double and a triple) and Nomar Mazara (2-for-4, 2 RBI)

WRAP-UP

The Rangers return home on Tuesday back at .500 with a record of 53-53. They have a two game series with the Seattle Mariners, off on Thursday, and then a weekend series with the Detroit Tigers.

Joey Gallo is expected to be out 4-6 weeks with a broken hammate bone in his wrist. Danny Santana (calf tightness) and Chris Martin (back stiffness) are not expected to go on the IL.

The trade deadline is Wednesday and names to keep an eye on include Santana, Nomar Mazara, Hunter Pence and Mike Minor.

Until next time, I’ll see you in the cheap seats!