The Texas Rangers were down to the Houston Astros 6-1 heading into the eighth inning. They put together a furious rally, scoring four runs with two outs. In the end, though, Texas couldn't come up with the important hits.
Texas fell to the Astros 6-5 on Tuesday night, hurting their American League postseason playoff chances. Rangers starter Merrill Kelly didn't have a solid outing as he gave up all six Astros runs in three innings of work.
For the Rangers, they desperately needed to win this series. Now, they are 3.5 games behind the Astros in the AL Wild Card picture.
They've pretty much lost any chance to win the AL West title as the Seattle Mariners, behind two home runs from Cal Raleigh, demolished the Kansas City Royals 13-5.
That's the 10th straight victory for Seattle and they don't appear ready to give up their division lead. Texas sits 4.5 games behind the first-place Mariners.
It's a pretty bleak picture for the Rangers heading into the series finale on Wednesday night. Jacob deGrom gets the start for Texas against Astros righthander Cristian Javier.
About Tuesday night at Daikin Park? Well, it's probably one that's going to sting for some Rangers fans.
Astros starter AJ Blubaugh struck out all three Texas hitters in the top of the first inning. The Astros scored the game's first run on Jose Altuve's sacrifice fly to left field that scored Jeremy Peña from third.
Houston added a run in the third to go up 2-0, then the floodgates opened in the fourth inning against Kelly. The Astros put up a four-spot, starting with Yanier Diaz's double to left that scored Jake Meyers and Victor Caratini moved to third. The Astros led 6-1 at that point and it looked like the Rangers were going to call it a night.
But Texas, led by the "Little Rascals" on the team with so many players hurt, had some fight in them. Astros reliever Enyel De Los Santos got the first two outs in the eighth, but Jonah Heim's two-run homer pulled the Rangers within 6-3.
Adolis García came off the bench for a pinch-hit single to right center that scored Josh Jung after the Rangers had tacked on another run. Texas was now within 6-5 and Alejandro Osuna was at third base. But Texas couldn't get him in for the tying run.
Astros reliever Colton Gordon worked after Blubaugh left after three innings and picked up the victory. Bryan Abreu, who took over the closer's role after Josh Hader went down with an injury, worked through 1 1/3 innings to get his seventh save. Kelly took the loss for Texas.
The season series is tied between both teams at 6-6 with the Silver Boot Series on the line. If the Astros win, they'll keep it where it's been put inside Daikin Park. The Rangers do have something to play for on Wednesday, even if their postseason hopes are hanging by a thread.
Rangers fans need to pull out whatever good luck charm they have available because this team needs all the luck in the world heading into Wednesday night in Houston.