Texas Rangers Limp Into All-Star Break With Another Loss

The Texas Rangers have lost 16 of their past 21 games but still lead the American League West.

The Texas Rangers limped to the All-Star Break with a 7-2 loss to the Washington Nationals Sunday afternoon at Nationals Park.

The Rangers finished the first half losing 11 of 16 games and three consecutive series losses.

The Nationals outscored the Rangers 15-5 in the series' final two games.

Since June, the Rangers are 17-19.

The Rangers (52-39) lead the American League West by two games. The Houston Astros (50-41) lost to the Seattle Mariners Sunday afternoon.

Rangers pitching has regressed from the start of the season when the staff had a combined 3.43 ERA over the first 28 games. That increased to 3.95 in May, 4.13 in June, and ballooned to 5.48 so far in July.

The Nationals (36-54) scored twice in the fifth, three in the sixth, and two more in the seventh to build a 7-1 lead.

Starter Dane Dunning was charged with four runs on seven hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings.

Josh Sborz was tagged for three runs on five hits in an inning of relief.

Adolis Garcia drove in both Rangers runs on a single in the sixth and a fielder's choice in the eighth.

 Five of the six Rangers players selected as All-Stars are scheduled to start the game at 7 p.m. Tuesday at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. Pitcher Nathan Eovaldi is also under consideration to start for the AL.

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You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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