Rangers Struggle Offensively in Loss to Mariners Amid Early Season Woes

SEATTLE — The Texas Rangers‘ offense faltered once again on Friday night, as they suffered a 5-3 defeat to the Seattle Mariners. This loss marked their seventh game in the last 14 where they scored three or fewer runs, raising questions about their early-season struggles.

Designated hitter Joc Pederson began the season with an uncharacteristically poor performance, slashing just .094/.216/.125 in his first 11 games. “I’ve not had a lot of quality at-bats,” Pederson acknowledged. “I feel pretty crappy there.” The 33-year-old player mentioned attempts to regain his rhythm at the plate, noting his need to work on getting back to a more natural swing.

Despite being moved down in the batting order from fourth to fifth on Friday, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy emphasized the shift was not solely a response to Pederson’s struggles. Instead, the lineup adjustment came to balance left-handed hitters in crucial spots. Josh Smith was moved up to the third spot, previously held by Wyatt Langford, separating three consecutive left-handed batters.

The Rangers’ pitching staff had a rocky night as well. Ace Jacob deGrom, who has been a consistent performer for the team, lasted only four innings and allowed two home runs, with four walks. “I didn’t do anything well,” deGrom admitted after the game. “I walked four guys. I put us in a bad spot. So, that one’s on me.” This recent outing was reminiscent of past performances, where he failed to keep the ball down in the strike zone, allowing hitters to capitalize.

The Rangers managed to tie the game at three after falling behind, yet relief pitcher Jonathan Hernandez allowed the decisive home run to Cal Raleigh in the eighth inning. The situation was a harsh reminder for Texas as they faced wasted opportunities at the plate. They left the bases loaded in the first inning and struggled to convert scoring chances throughout the game, ending with a 2-for-12 mark with runners in scoring position.

Bochy remained optimistic despite the disappointment, stating, “As I’ve said, they’re going to hit. They are just not quite there yet. We got runners out there; we were just lacking that one hit.” The ongoing challenge for the Rangers is finding consistency, with hopes that better days are ahead as the season progresses.