ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers pieced together one of their sharper pitching performances of the season Monday night, but a lack of offense proved costly in a 1-0 loss to the Arizona Diamondbacks at Globe Life Field.
Arizona scratched across the game’s only run in the opening inning and rode a dominant outing from starter Michael Soroka to take the first game of the three-game set. The Rangers managed only three hits and were blanked for just the second time this season.
Texas turned to a bullpen-heavy approach and received quality work throughout the night after opener Jakob Junis was tagged for the lone run. Junis allowed back-to-back doubles to Corbin Carroll and Geraldo Perdomo in the first inning before settling in to finish 2 2/3 innings with two strikeouts.
From there, the Rangers relief corps kept Arizona quiet. Rookie Peyton Gray delivered another encouraging appearance, tossing 2 2/3 scoreless innings while allowing only one hit. The right-hander has quickly become a dependable option out of the bullpen, giving up just one earned run through his first six major league appearances.
Despite the pitching keeping Texas within striking distance, the offense never found a rhythm against Soroka. The Arizona right-hander retired 14 consecutive hitters at one point and worked 6 1/3 scoreless innings, striking out five to earn the win. Kyle Higashioka finally broke through with a leadoff single in the sixth inning after Rangers hitters had been held hitless since the opening frame.
Perdomo paced Arizona offensively with two hits, including the RBI double that accounted for the only scoring of the night. Paul Sewald closed the door in the ninth to secure his ninth save of the season.
The loss marked the Rangers’ first 1-0 defeat at home in more than a year despite a combined 6 1/3 scoreless innings from the bullpen. Texas also continued a troubling trend offensively, recording its 23rd game this season scoring three runs or fewer.
