ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Texas Rangers left Angel Stadium outside the final American League Wild Card spot after losing three of four to the Los Angeles Angels, and manager Skip Schumaker put the responsibility on himself.
Texas was shut out 7-0 Thursday, dropping to 60-62. The Rangers are a half-game behind the Detroit Tigers for the final AL Wild Card spot and two games behind the Houston Astros in the AL West.
The loss was Texas’ sixth in seven games at Angel Stadium this season. Los Angeles is 7-3 against the Rangers overall and has already clinched the season series with three games remaining Aug. 21-23 in Arlington.
Schumaker said something has to change with the Rangers’ play away from home.
“We’ve got to figure it out,” Schumaker said. “It starts with me. I’ve got to start doing something different on the road. In-division especially, we have just not been good. We’ve got to switch it up somehow, and I’ve got to think of new ideas for that to happen. Because that series right there just can’t happen. Especially where we’re at in the season. We’ve got to fight back, and it starts tomorrow.”
Texas Rangers Struggle To Finish Series Against Los Angeles Angels
Texas won the opener in Anaheim before losing the final three games.
Thursday was the worst of the three. The Rangers managed 5 hits against Walbert Ureña and three Angels relievers, did not record an extra-base hit and finished without a hit with runners in scoring position.
Over the final three games of the series, Texas went 1-for-16 with runners in scoring position.
Joc Pederson had a similarly short assessment after the finale.
“It wasn’t good,” Pederson said. “It was not good baseball at all on our part.”
The Angels entered Thursday at 47-74 but finished the series on a three-game winning streak. They scored at least 5 runs Wednesday and Thursday after going 16 straight games without topping 4.
Texas has had trouble against Los Angeles all season. The Rangers are 1-6 at Angel Stadium, while the Angels have won seven of the first 10 meetings overall.
Texas Rangers Face More Problems After Leaving Anaheim
The standings were not the only concern by Thursday night.
Jacob deGrom left after two innings with right triceps fatigue and is scheduled to undergo an MRI Friday.
His exit came three days after Nathan Eovaldi went on the 15-day injured list with right posterior elbow inflammation.
“The starting pitching has taken a hit,” Schumaker explained. “That is reality with our two guys going down. We’ll see what it looks like, obviously. Jack Leiter threw today, so that’s good news. But it’s never easy when your No. 1 and No. 2 guys are down, but they’re here [with the team]. Evo’s here. And they can still be a voice and still lead in different ways.”
Jack Leiter made his first Triple-A rehab start Thursday and can come off the 60-day injured list Aug. 18.
The Rangers now head to West Sacramento for three games against the Athletics. Kumar Rocker starts Friday against Gage Jump.
First pitch is at 8:40 p.m. CT at Sutter Health Park on Rangers Sports Network.
