ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers erased most of a five-run deficit Friday night but couldn’t complete the comeback, falling 7-6 to the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field.
The loss evened the four-game series at one game apiece and ended Texas’ 10-game home winning streak against Tampa Bay. It was the Rays’ first victory at Globe Life Field since June 2, 2022.
Texas dropped to 70-72 on the season and is now 3-2 on its homestand, with two games remaining against Tampa Bay.
The Rangers also lost despite scoring first, falling to 52-18 this season in games in which they have opened the scoring. It marked just the second time this week Texas had an opportunity to reach .500 but failed to do so.
Elias Díaz nearly changed the game with one swing.
Trailing 6-1 in the seventh, Díaz launched a grand slam on a 1-2 pitch from Tampa Bay reliever Garrett Cleavinger, cutting the deficit to 6-5. It was the Rangers’ first grand slam of the season and their first since Michael Helman hit one against Milwaukee on Sept. 8, 2025.
Díaz finished with five RBIs after adding a sacrifice fly in the ninth. It was the fourth grand slam of his career, with his previous three coming while he was with Colorado.
The grand slam also ended Texas’ distinction as one of only three major league teams without a bases-loaded homer this season. Milwaukee and the New York Yankees remained the only teams without one entering the rest of the night.
Ezequiel Durán provided Texas’ first run in the second inning, turning around a first-pitch sinker from Nick Martinez for his 17th homer of the season.
Durán has become one of the Rangers’ most productive hitters at home. Twelve of his 17 homers have come at Globe Life Field, where he entered Friday hitting .307 with 42 RBIs.
He also has 13 RBIs over his last 12 games, the most in the American League during that span.
But Tampa Bay answered quickly.
Jonathan Aranda tied the game with a solo homer off Kumar Rocker in the third, and Richie Palacios put the Rays ahead with another solo shot in the fourth.
Tampa Bay then broke the game open in the fifth, stringing together three consecutive doubles as part of a four-run inning. Junior Caminero delivered a run-scoring double, while the Rays collected five hits in the frame.
Rocker, working as a bulk reliever, absorbed the loss after allowing six runs — five earned — on nine hits over five innings. He struck out three, walked none and surrendered two homers.
Trevor Williams opened the game for Texas and retired Tampa Bay in order in the first inning. It was his first start of the season and his first since his final outing of 2025 with Washington.
Martinez, meanwhile, kept the Rangers quiet for most of his outing. The former Texas draft pick allowed only Durán’s second-inning homer through six innings before the Rangers mounted their seventh-inning comeback.
Martinez left after 6⅓ innings with Texas threatening. He was charged with three earned runs on five hits, with two walks and four strikeouts, improving to 14-4.
His 14 victories are tied with Tampa Bay teammate Drew Rasmussen for second-most in the American League, behind Boston’s Sonny Gray.
Caminero finished with two RBIs, reaching 90 for the season. He also has an RBI in 10 of his last 16 games and 15 of his last 24.
Aranda reached base three times and finished 2-for-4 with a homer, double and two RBIs. His 18 homers and 82 RBIs are both career highs.
Palacios’ fourth-inning homer was his seventh of the season, establishing another career high.
Texas had opportunities late but couldn’t push across the tying run.
Corey Seager continued his strong return from the injured list, going 2-for-4. Since being activated July 31, Seager is batting .301 with an .858 OPS.
Jake Burger reached base four times, going 1-for-1 with three walks, a career high.
Chandler Simpson added two hits and now has 50 multi-hit games this season, the most in the American League.
The Rangers and Rays will meet again Saturday before closing the series Sunday.
