SEATTLE — The transformation of Safeco Field to T-Mobile Park in 2019 was primarily driven by marketing strategies, but for the Texas Rangers, the stadium has become a challenging venue, amplifying their struggles in Seattle. On Thursday, the Rangers faced another setback in the ongoing playoff race, suffering a 6-0 defeat against the Mariners.
The loss was marked by errors, including two runs that resulted from mistakes by catcher Kyle Higashioka. The Rangers struggled to generate offense throughout the game, resulting in their 11th shutout of the season, which places them on a path for a total of 16 shutouts—just one shy of the record since the American League introduced the designated hitter in 1973.
Despite making several trades to bolster their pitching lineup, the Rangers failed to add any offensive reinforcements before the trade deadline. Manager Bruce Bochy acknowledged the team’s need to enhance their scoring productivity, particularly in their remaining games at T-Mobile Park, where they have lost all four encounters this season and dropped seven consecutive games overall.
Kumar Rocker, a rookie pitcher for the Rangers, faced challenges on the mound, allowing three runs over 4 ⅔ innings, including a formidable home run from Mariners’ Cole Young. The Rangers now find themselves trailing the Mariners in the wild card standings, with Seattle having claimed eight of the ten matchups this season.
The performance of Mariners pitcher George Kirby has been particularly problematic for Texas. Kirby has dominated the Rangers in Seattle, maintaining a staggering 0.21 ERA against them over his seven career starts in this park. In Thursday’s game, he struck out six batters and maintained effective control, thwarting any significant threats the Rangers attempted to mount.
The Rangers will have three more opportunities to turn things around against the Mariners over the weekend, with hopes of regaining momentum in their playoff chase. The silver lining for the Rangers is that they won’t have to face George Kirby again in regular-season play unless they meet in the postseason.
As the season progresses, the determination and effort to change their fortunes in Seattle will be vital for the Rangers if they hope to compete meaningfully in the wild card race.