The season-long inconsistency shown by the Texas Rangers reared its ugly head again in perhaps the worst possible way on Wednesday.
Up 4-2 entering the top of the ninth inning in the finale of a three-game home series against Arizona, and still leading with one out to go, the Rangers gave it up in ghastly fashion. Down 4-3 with two on and two out, the Diamondbacks’ Ketel Marte hit a three-RBI home run to hand the Rangers a crushing 6-4 loss at Globe Life Field.
Down to their final out, Ketel Marte launches a 3-run homer to give Arizona the lead! ☄️
(via @Dbacks)pic.twitter.com/6GHfp8MhqD
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) August 13, 2025
It also ended a homestand in which the Rangers finished 3-6. After taking two of three from the New York Yankees to start it, Texas was swept over the weekend by the Philadelphia Phillies and then dropped two of three to the Diamondbacks, who were sellers at the trade deadline.
Marte hit a game-winning homer for the second straight day against a reliever the Rangers acquired at the trade deadline. Tuesday night, he broke a 2-all score in the ninth with a solo blast off of pitch Danny Coulombe; then delivered more ninth-inning heroics on Wednesday with his go-ahead shot off Phil Maton.
Entering Wednesday’s game, Maton – who was acquired by the Rangers at the deadline from the St. Louis Cardinals – had allowed only one home run in 43 1/3 innings. After retiring the first two batters in the top of the ninth, Maton gave up a solo home run to James McCann, who poked one down the left-field line.
#Diamondbacks 3 @ #Rangers 4 [T9-2o]:
James McCann homers (3): fly ball to LF
Hit: 🔥98.7mph, 361ft, 38°, .143xBAPitch: 83.7mph Sweeper (RHP P.Maton)#DBacks #AllForTX #MLB pic.twitter.com/r8PmbvGqFF
— MLB Run Videos (@MLBRBIs) August 13, 2025
Then, Maton hit the next batter and allowed a walk to the batter after that, bringing up Marte, who clubbed a 1-1 pitch into the seats in right center, putting the D’backs in front.
You wanted to face Ketel Marte. You sure about that? pic.twitter.com/QRZPuBemdb
— Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) August 13, 2025
Arizona pitcher Andrew Saalfrank then retired the side in order in the bottom of the ninth to take the series. Saalfrank picked up his first save of the season.
The loss also wasted a quality start from Rangers’ pitcher Merrill Kelly, the ex-Diamondback who also landed in Texas at the trade deadline. Against his former club, Kelly went six strong innings and gave up two earned runs on seven hits, walking one and striking out five.
Hello from the other side. #AllForTX pic.twitter.com/1s54UIsuZ5
— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) August 13, 2025
Texas now stands at exactly .500 on the season, 61-61. At the moment, they are seven games back of both Houston and Seattle, which were tied atop the American League West. The Rangers are also four games back of the third and final wild card spot, currently occupied by the Yankees.
Wednesday’s loss continued a roller-coaster of a season, in which the Rangers have generally gotten spectacular starting pitching, but their offense really hasn’t produced. And now they’re enduring issues with their bullpen. In fact, the Rangers have blown 23 save opportunities, the second-most in baseball behind the Angels (27).
Things don’t get any easier for the Rangers. They go on the road this weekend for a three-game set at Toronto, the AL East leaders, and then go to Kansas City for four games against the Royals, who are also challenging for a wild card spot. Texas then returns home on Aug. 22 to face Cleveland, which currently stands a game back of the Yankees for that third wild card position.
But for now, the Rangers will have to stew over this latest defeat for 48 hours. A defeat that they still may be dwelling over when the season comes to an end.
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