Houston Astros Edge Texas Rangers 79-73; Blubaugh Stars

The Texas Rangers suffered a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to the Houston Astros. This result pretty much sums up their wild 2024 season so far.

On a night when the stakes couldn’t have been higher, the Rangers fell behind early after a disastrous start from Merrill Kelly. They battled back hard but just couldn’t finish the job.

With the postseason slipping further away, Texas’ inconsistency cost them again. Losing a rivalry game like this one stings, especially with playoff hopes on the line.

Kelly’s Rough Outing Sets the Tone

Merrill Kelly had been one of the steadier arms in the Rangers’ rotation. Against Houston, though, he just didn’t have it.

Kelly couldn’t find his command and gave up six earned runs in only three innings. Easily his worst outing of the season, and it left Texas in a hole they couldn’t escape.

This one hurt even more given the pre-series setup. Texas had lined up their top three healthy starters for the Silver Boot showdown.

But both Jack Leiter and Kelly got outpitched by Houston’s rotation. Suddenly, the Rangers were staring down the barrel of a potential sweep.

The Astros Capitalize Early

By the end of the fourth, Houston led 6-0. The Astros just keep proving why they’re such a tough matchup for Texas—timely hitting, sharp pitching, and zero mercy for mistakes.

For the Rangers, those opening innings felt like a bad rerun from earlier in the year. Slow starts have been a frustrating pattern.

A Late Rally Shows Heart, But Not Enough

Even down big, the Rangers didn’t fold. Their offense finally woke up late, sparked by a Cody Freeman home run that gave the dugout a jolt.

Texas put up four runs in the eighth, suddenly making it a one-run game. Jonah Heim, coming off the bench, played a huge part in that surge.

Jonah Heim’s Heroics

Heim came through in the clutch. He smashed a two-run homer to spark the comeback and later singled in the ninth to put the tying run in scoring position.

He earned Player of the Game honors, even in a loss. His bat really can change things in a hurry.

But the rally fizzled at the worst time. With runners on and the tying run at second, Texas couldn’t deliver the big hit that would’ve forced extras.

Rangers’ Postseason Path Looks Bleak

With only ten games left, the Rangers basically need a miracle run to stay in the playoff hunt. They’ll have to get better starts, hit in big spots, and play with even more urgency.

The heart’s there, no doubt. But man, consistency just hasn’t been their thing in 2024.

Looking Ahead: deGrom vs. Javier

Next up, Texas sends Jacob deGrom to the mound against Houston’s Cristian Javier in the continuation of the Silver Boot series.

The symbolic prize might not mean much with the current standings, but pride and bragging rights don’t just disappear. Rangers fans still care about these games, even if the stakes have shifted.

If deGrom delivers a strong outing, the Rangers could grab some momentum for the final stretch. That’s not nothing at this point in the season.

• Key Takeaway: The Rangers have to take advantage of scoring chances, or they’ll keep dropping close games.
• Player of the Game: Jonah Heim, for his clutch hitting late in the game.
• Turning Point: Kelly’s tough start forced Texas to play catch-up almost immediately.
• What’s Next: Jacob deGrom faces Cristian Javier in the next Silver Boot matchup.

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