Back below .500. Panic!

• This was one of those games where it never really felt like the Rangers were going to win. The offense just never could quite get things going.

• Lance Lynn started for the Rangers, and did his job fairly well. 6 innings, 10 stirkeouts, 3 walks, and 3 runs (all earned).

• The problem is, a significant portion of the damage on the night came courtesy of Mallex Smith, 9th place hitter for the Mariners and owner of a .176 average, .521 OPS. Smith scored the game’s first run, and stole four bases on the night.

• During a sequence in the bottom of the 8th inning, Smith was walked by Kyle Bird. He then proceeded to steal 2nd, 3rd, and home, driving home insult to injury for the Rangers. Kyle Bird was making his first appearance since being called back up… well, today. Needless to say, it wasn’t a successful outing. Bird walked three hitters, allowed an inherited running from Jose Leclerc to score, and allowed his own run to cross the plate, courtesy of Mallex Smith.

• Speaking of Leclerc, shortly after giving up an absolute mammoth of a home run to Daniel Vogelbach, Leclerc came up favoring his right leg after one pitch to Jay Bruce. He was pulled from the game with what has been deemed right calf cramping/tightness. We’ll see what comes of it, but it’s probably a good bet that we don’t see Jose for about 10 days.

• The Rangers only managed six hits on the night, with the top third of the lineup going hitless. Combined with what has become a daily lineup black hole with Odor and whoever happens to be catching, this just wasn’t the kind of game the Rangers were equipped to come back and win.