Martin Perez Struggles, Texas Rangers Drop Ray Series

The Texas Rangers lost the series of the two best teams in MLB with Sunday's setback at the Tampa Bay Rays.

Martín Pérez didn’t have his best stuff and the Texas Rangers dropped Sunday series finale 7-3 to the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

In a weekend showdown of the MLB’s two best teams by record and a possible playoff preview, Tampa Bay (48-20) took two of three by winning the bookend games. The Rangers (41-23) won the middle game 8-4 Saturday.

American League West-leading Texas also saw it’s streak of six consecutive series wins end. The Rangers have dropped three of their last four, but still comfortably lead the division and hold the franchise’s best record after 64 games.

Pérez suffered through his shortest stint of the season, lasting just 3 1/3 innings and giving up seven runs. It marked only the third time in 13 starts this season that the veteran lefty failed to go at least five innings, but two have come in his last three outings.

Wander Franco’s three-run homer in the fourth pretty much ended the day for Pérez, who dropped to 6-2.

The Rangers, down 4-0, did mount a rally with three runs in the third. Robbie Grossman drilled a solo shot to left-center off Rays ace Shane McClanahan to get Texas on the board. Marcus Semien and Corey Seager also have run-producing hits.

That was all the scoring the Rangers could muster as the quick road trip came to an end. They did put a scare in the Rays in the ninth, loading the bases with one out against closer Jason Adam. The potential rally was thwarted when Ezequiel Duran grounded into a game-concluding double play.

McClanahan improved to 10-1 and move a victory ahead of Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi for the most wins in the Majors.

Texas returns Globe Life Field to open a seven-game homestand Monday night with the first of four against the Los Angeles Angels. The division rivals met earlier this season in Anaheim, with the Rangers taking the series 2-1.

Dane Dunning (5-1, 2.52) goes for Texas in the opener, with Tyler Anderson (3-1, 5.62) on the mound for the Angels. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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