Torkelson Homers Twice, Tigers Down Texas Rangers in Series Finale

The Texas Rangers spit the four-game series with the Detroit Tigers with the Houston Astros on tap.

© Raymond Carlin III-USA TODAY Sports

The Texas Rangers dropped series finale as Spencer Torkelson homered twice to lead the Detroit Tigers to an 8-5 win Thursday at Globe Life Field.

The American League West-leading Rangers (49-32) completed the first half of the season on a 98-win pace after splitting four games with Detroit. After taking an early 1-0 lead, Texas found itself playing from behind for most of the afternoon.

Despite the setback, the Rangers move on to a division showdown with the defending champion Houston Astros in good shape. Texas owns a comfortable lead in the AL West – it’ll be at least five games depending on the outcomes of games involving the Astros and Los Angeles Angels later Thursday – with the All-Star break looming.

The Tigers (35-45) broke a 3-3 tie on an Andy Ibanez single in the seventh off reliever Joe Barlow. Detroit padded their lead in the eighth against John King, who allowed a three-run homer to Torkelson.

Barlow (1-1) took his first loss of the season.

The Rangers got solo home runs from Leody Taveras and Ezequiel Duran that tied the game at different points. Texas finished with 12 hits, going 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position and leaving eight on base.

The Rangers scored twice in the ninth on a bases-loaded walk and sac fly from Nathaniel Lowe. Adolis García came up as the tying run with two on base, but lined out to end the game. 

Cody Bradford made another spot start for the Rangers and held his own. The rookie struck out a career-high eight and allowed three runs on four hits in 4 1/3 innings.

After allowing a homer to Torkelson and going 2-0 Ibanez with one out in the fifth, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy yanked Bradford in favor of Grant Anderson. The fellow rookie came back to strike out Ibanez and get out of the inning unscathed.

Tigers starter Reese Olsen was knocked out in the second inning after taking a hard liner to his left knee off the bat of Rangers shortstop Josh Smith, who starting in place of Corey Seager.

The Astros series opens Friday with Jon Gray (6-3, 2.89) going for Texas. Houston has yet to name a starter. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Globe Life Field.

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