The Rangers had a chance to leave Baltimore with a sweep, but instead the finale unraveled fast and loud in a 10-5 loss that ended any talk of a broom.
Texas did score five runs, but Baltimore answered with ten, and the game tilted early when Kumar Rocker couldn’t get out of the first inning cleanly. The biggest miscue came on a ground ball that Jake Burger handled with a diving stop, only for Rocker to fail to cover first. That opened the door for an infield single and a run, and Leody Taveras, an old friend in this one, followed with a two-out RBI double to push the Orioles ahead 2-0.
Rocker never really found his footing after that. Instead of settling in, he gave up three more runs in the second on a pair of home runs. He was done after three innings, charged with six runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five.
The bullpen got another workout, and Jordan Montgomery was the one who had to pick up the next stretch of innings. He entered after a leadoff walk in the fourth for his first Rangers appearance since Game 2 of the 2023 World Series, and his first big league action overall since Sept.
- Montgomery worked four innings, which at least helped save the relief corps some wear, but he also gave up three earned runs on two two-run homers, with one of those runs landing on Rocker’s line.
Even in a rough day, Montgomery’s return was a notable one. He was a playoff hero for Texas in 2023, and the Rangers wouldn’t have won a World Series without him. On Sunday, though, he was in long relief duty in a game that had already gotten away.
Texas had been trying to build on a rebound from its miserable previous week, and a sweep would have given the club real momentum with two series against the bottom feeders in the division ahead. Instead, the Rangers settled for a series win and left the finale behind them.
Player of the Game: Brandon Nimmo, whose third inning three-run home run briefly made it look like Texas might claw back before Baltimore shut the door again.
In Other News...
Jordan Montgomery's Return Left Rangers Watching One Late-Season Question
Jordan Montgomery was back on a big-league mound for Texas for the first time since the end of the 2024 season, and the return came with the kind of work-in-progress feel the Rangers have been bracing for. In four innings against Baltimore, he gave up three earned runs, a reminder that even a familiar arm can take some time to settle in after a long layoff. For a club still trying to sort through its late-season picture, getting Montgomery back in the mix mattered as much as the line score.
Skip Schumaker did not sound discouraged afterward, pointing to the possibility of more coming as Montgomery builds back up. There is still other movement on the horizon, too, with catcher Danny Jansen expected to begin a rehab assignment soon and Jack Leiter likely to start one this week. For Texas, the bigger question now is not just whether Montgomery can round into form, but how quickly the roster around him starts to look more complete. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Are Betting On New Bullpen Arms To Fix A Lingering Problem
The Rangers moved on from Chris Martin on Aug. 8, ending a short and frustrating run for the veteran right-hander after he was designated for assignment and cleared waivers. Injuries had complicated his season from the start, and the results never matched the clubs hopes, with Martin struggling to a 9.00 ERA over 14 innings before his release.
Now Texas is trying to patch a familiar bullpen gap with a different look, turning to Chase Silseth and Peyton Gray for right-handed middle relief work. It is a low-profile move on paper, but for a Rangers staff that has been searching for dependable answers in the middle innings, these are the kinds of innings that can quietly shape a stretch run. [Read more 🡒]
Rangers Face A Brutal AL West Test They Have To Pass
The Rangers left Baltimore with a series win, even if the trip ended on a sour note, and now the schedule turns back toward a division test that could shape the next stretch of their season. They are heading out for a seven-game road trip against the Angels and Athletics, two clubs already out of playoff contention, which on paper should be a chance to bank wins and keep their momentum moving in the right direction.
For Texas, though, the real issue is not the opponent as much as the setting. The Rangers have not played well on the road against AL West teams this season, and this stretch carries extra weight because every division game can matter when the standings tighten later on. If they are going to keep their playoff chase in good position, this is the kind of road trip they have to handle better than they have so far. [Read more 🡒]