Kumar Rocker gave Texas the kind of start it needed Thursday, and the Rangers backed him with home runs from Josh Jung and Corey Seager in a 3-1 win over the Mets at Globe Life Field.
The result
Texas had arrived at the park coming off three straight losses and a long night of scoreboard watching. The Rangers and Astros began Wednesday tied for the American League West lead at 78-80, but Houston had jumped ahead early against Seattle while Texas was absorbing another difficult loss.
Then the Mariners turned their game against the Astros into a 10-inning contest that lasted 3 hours, 18 minutes and finished with Seattle on top. Rangers players watched the late innings on several clubhouse televisions after their own game, and Houston’s loss left the two Texas clubs still even at the top of the division when the night ended.
Manager Skip Schumaker said the clubhouse had been fully invested in the finish in Seattle.
“Everybody was pretty locked in on that game,” Schumaker said before Thursday’s game. “We still have an opportunity. That’s all you can ask for. After a hard loss, we went to sleep feeling a little differently than we had earlier that night.”
He also noted that simply remaining in the race changed the mood around the club.
“We’re fortunate to be in a position where we can watch a game and come back to the ballpark feeling good after a loss,” Schumaker said. “Not every club gets that chance. I felt like it was going to be a good day.”
It was. Rocker delivered one of his strongest outings of the season, while Jung and Seager supplied the power. The Rangers took care of the Mets and then turned their attention west, where the Astros were scheduled to face the Athletics later Thursday.
Schumaker’s message remained straightforward: Texas has life, but it must continue to win.
“There’s still a pulse,” he said. “As long as there’s a pulse, we’re ready to go. That’s the enjoyable part of this spot. But we have to win. I said it last night: if we don’t win, none of it matters. Watching the scoreboard is a lot more fun when you win.”
The rotation next
Rocker set the tone Thursday with a timely start, giving the Rangers a chance to turn the page after the skid. With the division race compressed and each remaining game carrying weight, Texas will need more nights where its starter holds the line and its lineup supplies just enough damage, as Jung and Seager did against New York.
