Top Pitching Prospect Loses MLB Debut, Texas Rangers Fall to Angels

The Texas Rangers have lost the first two games of a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels.

ARLINGTON, Texas – The Texas Rangers got perhaps a glimpse of a couple of their pitchers of the future Tuesday night.

But they’re more concerned about the present right now.

The Rangers’ losing streak reached three with a 7-3 loss to the division rival Los Angeles Angels at Globe Life Field.

It’s the longest skid for Texas since dropping four in a row in late April. The Rangers (41-25) continue to lead the American League West, but have dropped five of six since being a season-high 20 games over .500.

Texas lost for the second night in a row despite holding an early lead. It was a 5-1 lead in Monday’s 9-6 setback and a 3-1 advantage in the second game of the four-game series.

The Rangers went with two rookies to carry the pitching load – Cody Bradford made his third spot start and Owen White had his MLB debut. Both were called up earlier in the day, with Bradford stepping in for Jon Gray, who is dealing with a blister issue.

The 25-year-old Bradford gave up one run in 4 1/3 innings for the best showing in his brief career. He was pulled after striking out Mickey Moniak to open the fifth.

White, 23, has spent the season at Double-A Frisco and was a surprise promotion. The right-hander, the top pitching prospect in the Texas system, promptly struck out Chad Wallach to start his Big League career.

White ran into trouble in the sixth, giving up three runs and the lead. Hunter Renfroe’s two-run homer to right field put the visitors up 4-3.

White went two innings and allowed three runs on four hits in taking the loss.

Texas reliever José Leclerc was tagged for a two-run homer in the ninth by Zach Neto and gave up a run-scoring single to Brandon Drury. 

The Rangers took a 2-1 lead in the third on Nathaniel Lowe’s two-run, opposite-field shot to left off Angels starter Jaime Barria. Corey Seager had opened the inning with a scorching double to center field that was a few feet short of clearing the wall.

Seager drilled his eighth homer – a solo shot to center in the fifth – for a 3-1 edge.

Andrew Heaney (4-4, 4.14) starts for Texas in Wednesday’s third game, with Reid Detmers (1-5, 4.79) going for Los Angeles (38-31). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.

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