The Texas Rangers’ offensive struggles continued on Tuesday night, as they were shut out for the seventh time this season in a 4-0 defeat against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. The loss marks the ninth time in 2024 that the Rangers have been held to three or fewer hits in a game, a troubling trend that has plagued the team throughout the year.
Mitch Keller, the Pirates’ star pitcher, was the architect of Texas’s misery, allowing just three hits and no walks while striking out nine over seven dominant innings. The Rangers managed only three singles and struck out a total of 10 times, unable to generate any meaningful offense against Keller and the Pirates’ bullpen.
Key Takeaways from Tuesday’s Game:
- Cody Bradford’s Solid Outing: Despite the loss, Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford delivered a commendable performance on the mound. Apart from a rocky fourth inning, where he gave up three runs on four hits, Bradford pitched well, striking out a career-high-tying eight batters over seven innings. He allowed five hits overall and did not issue any walks. The three-run fourth inning was sparked by a ground-rule double from Connor Joe and RBI hits from Bryan De La Cruz and Oneil Cruz, giving the Pirates a 3-0 lead. https://x.com/BallySportsSW/status/1826084563443134771?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1826084563443134771%7Ctwgr%5Ea31f8e3c5612330d66f947e0a1ca93b002d35702%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.si.com%2Fmlb%2Frangers%2Fnews%2Fblanked-by-bucs-texas-rangers-offense-silenced-by-pittsburgh-pirates-mitch-keller
- Aroldis Chapman’s Perfect Return: Former Rangers reliever Aroldis Chapman, now with the Pirates, made a triumphant return to Globe Life Field. He pitched a perfect eighth inning, retiring the side on just four pitches. Chapman, who was part of the Rangers’ 2023 World Series team, was honored before the game with his World Series ring by Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Chris Young.
- Looking Ahead: The Rangers will look to avoid a series loss in the finale on Wednesday. Left-hander Andrew Heaney (4-13, 4.20 ERA) is set to face Pirates right-hander Domingo Germán (0-0, 3.00 ERA), who will be making his fourth appearance and first start of the season.
The Rangers’ offensive woes continue to be a significant concern as they seek to find consistency and avoid falling further behind in the standings.
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