The Texas Rangers again showed why relief pitching could be a priority before the trade deadline, wasting a strong outing from Jacob deGrom in a 6-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners in Arlington. DeGrom gave Texas the kind of start it needed, allowing just one run over five-plus innings and putting the club in position to win.
Instead, the game turned when the Rangers’ bullpen could not protect a two-run advantage in the seventh inning. What had looked like a solid setup behind deGrom quickly changed as Seattle erased the lead and took control.
The result underscored a familiar concern for Texas. Even with frontline pitching delivering enough to keep the team ahead, late-inning relief remains an issue, and the latest collapse only adds to the sense that bullpen help may be needed at the deadline.
For the Rangers, the loss was especially frustrating because the foundation for a win was already in place. DeGrom did his part, but the inability to close out the Mariners left Texas with another defeat and renewed focus on its bullpen problems.
