Inside The Rangers

Watch: Cubs Blank Texas Rangers in Series Opener

The Texas Rangers struggle continue offensively, failing to take advantage of a solid outing by Nathan Eovaldi.

Matthew Postins

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The Texas Rangers lost to the Chicago Cubs 2-0 on Friday afternoon at Wrigley Field to the start of a three-game series. 

The Rangers (4-3) received a solid outing from Nathan Eovaldi (1-1), even though he left down 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth. He gave up five hits, two runs and a walk, while striking out six. 

The Rangers bullpen pitched scoreless relief behind him. The bullpen has not allowed a run since Opening Day.

Josh Smith returned to the Rangers lineup and started in left field after taking a pitch off his face in the previous series against Baltimore. He required six stitches and a hospital visit, but luckily had no serious injuries. 

The Rangers managed just three hits and were blanked for the second time this season. Since scoring 27 runs in their first two games against Philadelphia, the Rangers have scored nine runs in their last five games with two shutouts. 

The Cubs (3-3) received six strong innings from starter Marcus Stroman (2-0), as he allowed just two hits, walked three and struck out six. 

His immediate relief was Mark Leiter Jr., the son of former Major League pitcher Mark Leiter and the cousin of Texas Rangers prospect Jack Leiter, who made his 2023 season debut on Thursday with Double-A Frisco. Michael Fulmer worked the final two innings for his first save.

The Rangers and Cubs square off again on Saturday at 3:05 p.m. with Martín Pérez scheduled to start for the Rangers. The game will be on both Bally Sports Southwest and Fox Sports 1.

This series is the only one between the Cubs Rangers this season.

In the bottom of the third, Rangers second baseman Marcus Semen helped start a 4-6-3 double play that got the Rangers out of the inning. 

The Cubs finally got a run on the board in the bottom of the fourth, as a Cody Bellinger single drove in Dansby Swanson.

The Cubs added a run in the bottom of the sixth on a double by Ian Happ, which scored Tucker Barnhart. The ball was well hit to center field and Adolis García misplayed it, even though he wasn't charged with an error.

The Rangers had a runner at second in the top of the eighth and two out after Corey Seager doubled. But Nathaniel Lowe followed with a strikeout to end the inning. 

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Matthew Postins
MATTHEW POSTINS

Matthew Postins is an award-winning sports journalist who covers the Texas Rangers for Fan Nation/SI and also writes about the Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. He also covers the Big 12 for HeartlandCollegeSports.com.

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