SAN DIEGO -- The epidemic of extra-inning games seems never-ending for the Rangers.
Now, after a 3-2, 10-inning loss to the Padres on Friday afternoon at Petco Park, six of the Rangers’ past nine games have gone to extra innings. Going back to June 14, seven of 19 games have gone extras -- the most in MLB.
The Rangers hadn’t played extra before that June 14 game. In fact, Texas had gone a franchise-record 70 games to open the season and 95 games overall dating to 2024 without playing extra innings.
“You just want to be in a position every game to have a chance to win,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “That's what we tried to do, and we were today. They played hard. We actually did some good things, and we put the ball in play. We just couldn't get one to fall.”
Sure, the Rangers were in a position to win on Friday. But we’ve seen this exact game before.
The Rangers’ starter -- Kumar Rocker on Friday -- put the team in position to win. The bullpen turned in a lights-out performance. And the offense failed to capitalize on chance after chance. Texas went 1-for-12 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 runners.
This blueprint is how the Rangers lost a series against the Mariners at home and failed to sweep the Orioles the series after.
“It's definitely frustrating,” utilityman Josh Smith said. “Personally, I feel like I've had numerous opportunities to get a guy in from second or third and just haven't done it. So that's just been frustrating. I haven't done my part.
“It's kind of just been the story of this year so far. We just can't get that guy in. I've been bad at it. So I’m taking some ownership on it, trying to try to get better at it. But, yeah, it's just been frustrating.”
The Rangers are 3-4 in extra-inning games this season. This comes after they were 9-2 in extra innings in 2024.
Nothing much has changed with the personnel or the approach. But Texas just hasn’t been able to come through in these situations lately.
“It's pretty simple,” Bochy said “You’ve got to get a hit with runners in scoring position. We had the right guys up there at times. And it's got to be a case of somebody coming through to punch a run across. It's frustrating to lose these extra-inning games, but it's a pretty simple game. I'll say it all the time: You got to get a hit with runners on.”
There’s no doubt that the Rangers are fighting hard to win these games. But fight doesn’t move you up in the standings. There won’t be many moral victories around the clubhouse.
“We got to do whatever we can to win,” Smith said. “It's all about getting the timely hit, and we just haven't done that. We need to find a way to get those runs in the big situations. It's just been frustrating, because it's just kind of some story over and over again.”
Rocker’s hot streak continues
The biggest plus of the day was the continued development of Rocker, who allowed two runs in 5 1/3 innings.
The right-hander, who made his MLB debut last season and had a 3.86 ERA in three starts, got off to a rough start to his first full big league season. Rocker was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock on June 5, just one start following his activation from the injured list as he dealt with a right shoulder impingement.
In that last start in Tampa, Rocker allowed five runs in 3 1/3 innings in a loss, ballooning his season ERA to 8.87 across his first six starts of the season. He was recalled to join the big league club just 10 days later, when Tyler Mahle landed on the injured list.
Rocker has posted a 2.49 ERA in 21 2/3 innings across four starts since returning. He lowered his season ERA from 8.87 to 5.80.
“Great job by Rock,” Bochy said. “That hard cutter -- that's been a big pitch for him. He's locating better; he’s pounding the strike zone. It's just great to see how he's turned this thing around. He's given us a chance to win. That's all you can ask.”