The Texas Rangers really didn't need to go into a tailspin right now with their postseason hopes hanging by a thread. But the Rangers lost their sixth straight game, falling 4-3 to the Miami Marlins at Globe Life Field on Saturday night.

Marlins hitters Troy Johnston and Connor Norby hit solo home runs off Rangers starter Jack Leiter, who was pegged for the loss. 

About those postseason hopes? Texas is now seven games behind the red-hot Seattle Mariners, who beat the Houston Astros 6-4 at Daikin Park on Saturday night. The Rangers are six games behind the Astros and the Cleveland Guardians, who also are pretty hot right now, in the American League Wild Card race.

It was imperative that Texas pick things up against the Marlins, a team that already was out of National League postseason hopes themselves. But it hasn't worked out as Miami has won the first two of the weekend three-game series.

Leiter was close to getting out of the top of the sixth inning in a tie game and looking for another quality start. The two Marlins homers sent him to the showers, though. After the game, Leiter was in no mood to hear platitudes about an almost quality start.

"Right now, kind of in the moment, [I’m] just frustrated, pissed off,” Leiter said, according to Rangers reporter Kennedi Landry for MLB.com. "This was a stretch where we needed to win the most. We're on a six-game losing streak, and I’m two of those. So I just need to be better. … Before tonight, I was looking at hopefully making the playoffs. It’s not over, till it’s over. Obviously, the last two felt like must-win games, so it's super disappointing."

The Rangers offense was pretty dismal, not giving Leiter much support. Despite the loss and giving up those two home runs, though, on Saturday night, Leiter has had a pretty solid season overall. 

"The first one just got out, I think the second one, that's the pitch he'd like to have back," Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said in a postgame media scrum. "He had good stuff tonight. Again, he made pitches when he had to, when we had the bases loaded. He's just getting better. He just left a pitch, a breaking ball up there that they took advantage of."

Texas and Miami finish up their three-game weekend series on Sunday. 

Scott Littlefield Dies

Before Saturday's game, the Rangers announced the passing of Scott Littlefield, who worked in the Rangers baseball operations department. He was in Houston on assignment for the Rangers. He was 59 years old.

Littlefield was in the role of Special Assistant, Player Personnel at the time of his death. He also was a 34-year MLB scouting employee with three different teams.