Bullpen Collapses Late, Rangers Fall

The bullpen faltered again and Texas Rangers bullpen saw their three-game winning streak snapped, falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-4 Monday night at PNC Park.

The American League West-leading Rangers (29-18) opened a nine-game road trip with their first trip to Pittsburgh since 2019. Texas dropped to 13-10 on the road.

Rangers starter Dane Dunning turned in another solid performance, giving up just one run in 5 2/3 innings. The teams were tied 1-1 going into the seventh.

That’s when it fell apart.

The Pirates scored five runs in the seventh off Texas relievers Josh Sborz and Joe Barlow. Pittsburgh shortstop Tucupita Marcano delivered the deciding blow with a grand slam off Barlow. Three of the runs were charged to Sborz (1-2) and two to Barlow.

Trailing 6-1, the Rangers tried to rally over the last two innings. Josh Jung drilled a two-run homer in the ninth – his 10th of the season – but it was too little, too late.

The middle game of the series pits Nathan Eovaldi (5-2, 2.83) for Texas, with Rich Hill (4-3, 3.80) on the hill for the Pirates. First pitch is scheduled for 5:35 p.m. CT.

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You can follow Art Garcia on Twitter @ArtGarcia92.