Marcus Semien: Texas Rangers Will 'Find Out What We're Made Of' Against Mets
It didn’t sound ominous when the words left the mouth of Marcus Semien. But what it means for the Texas Rangers definitely does.
“We’ll definitely find out what we’re made of,” the All-Star second baseman said, referring to Monday night’s matchup at the New York Mets.
The Rangers (73-57) open what Semien also called a “big series” reeling from another heartbreaking loss. Texas coughed up a five-run lead and several opportunities to win late before falling 7-6 to the Minnesota Twins in 13 innings on Sunday.
An unfortunate balk by Aroldis Chapman helped the tying run score in the ninth, wasting a save chance. Failures to get a big hit over the last nine innings hurt. The Rangers were 2-for-17 with runners in scoring position. Ten walks, including three in row with two outs in the 13th by suddenly-wild Jonathan Hernández forced the winning run home.
The mistakes keep piling up. As do the losses. That’s nine in the last 10 games.
“I think they know the situation,” manager Bruce Bochy said, according to MLB.com. “Win ballgames, there’s no magic wand here. We hit a tough stretch here, tough rut and we’re going to come out and fight. That’s all you can do, which they did.”
The Rangers are out of first place in the American League West for the first time since April 8. The surging Seattle Mariners (74-56) have taken the top spot and are the favorites to win the division. The Houston Astros (74-58) are in a virtual tie with Texas.
The Mets series finishes off the last three-city road trip of the season for the Rangers. Jon Gray, Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning are lined up for the stop in Queens.
The season won’t be decided over the next three days. But maybe what the Rangers are made of will be.
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