Inside The Rangers

Blanked By Bucs! Texas Rangers Offense Silenced By Pittsburgh Pirates Mitch Keller

The Texas Rangers were shutout for the seventh time and held to three of fewer hits for the ninth time in 2024.

Stefan Stevenson

Aug 20, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cody Bradford (61) throws during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 20, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cody Bradford (61) throws during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
In this story:

ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers woeful offense continued to plague them Tuesday night.

The club was shutout for the seventh time as the Pittsburgh Pirates evened the series with a 4-0 shutout at Globe Life Field. Texas was shutout 11 times in 2023.

The Rangers were held to three hits — all singles — and struck out 10 times. It's the ninth time in 2024 the Rangers have been held to three or fewer hits in a game. They had seven such games in 2023.

Pirates starter Mitch Keller held Texas to three hits and no walks and had nine of the 10 strikeouts over seven innings.

Three thoughts from Tuesday's game:

1. Cody Bradford Solid

Cody Bradford allowed three runs on five hits and struck out eight over seven innings, but took the loss Tuesday night.
Aug 20, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Cody Bradford (61) throws during the first inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Except for a three-run fourth, left-hander Cody Bradford pitched well. He allowed three runs on five hits, including four in the fourth, walked none and struck out a career-high-tying eight over seven innings. With one on and two outs in the fourth, Connor Joe hit a ground-rule double to right, and Bryan De La Cruz singled in two runs. Oneil Cruz followed with an RBI triple to make it 3-0.
Jon Gray, who was activated from the injured list before the game, allowed a run on two hits and a walk in two innings of relief. Gray will return to the rotation next week.

2. Aroldis Chapman Returns Perfect

Former Rangers reliever Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect eighth for the Pirates on Tuesday night.
Aug 20, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman (45) throws during the eighth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Former Rangers reliever Aroldis Chapman, who was part of the 2023 World Series team, pitched a perfect eighth inning for the Pirates. He replaced starter Mitch Keller after Josh Jung's leadoff single and forced Jonah Heim and Carson Kelly to ground out to short on a total of four pitches. Heim hit into a 6-4-3 double-play before Kelly grounded out to end the inning.
Chapman received his World Series ring from Rangers manager Bruce Bochy and general manager Chris Young before Monday's series opener.

3. Up Next

The Rangers and Pirates will play a rubber game at 1:35 p.m. Wednesday at Globe Life Field.
Aug 20, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates designated hitter Oneil Cruz (15) runs the bases after hitting an rbi triple during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports / Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Rangers left-hander Andrew Heaney (4.13, 4.20) faces right-hander Domingo Germán (0-0, 3.00) in the series finale at 1:35 p.m. Wednesday. It's Germán's fourth appearance and first start in 2024.

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Stefan Stevenson

STEFAN STEVENSON

Stefan Stevenson worked as a journalist and editor at the Fort Worth Star-Telegram for 25 years, covering sports, concerts, and general news. His beats have included the Dallas Cowboys, the Texas Rangers, and Texas Christian University football.

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