If it’s not a first-inning meltdown, it’s a last-inning meltdown. This is the sign of a team that just cannot get out of its own way.

MacKenzie Gore had one of his rare strong starts: six innings pitched, one run allowed. He left with a lead. For one of the few times this season, he gave the Rangers a chance to win. 

Then, like what happens with teams that don’t click, the bullpen gave it away. Granted, the offense was nothing to write home about, but at least they fought back from behind 1-0 to go ahead 3-1. This against the worst hitting team in baseball. The Padres are dead last in team batting average, on-base percentage, and OPS, and second-to-last in runs scored.

Yet, they found a way to overcome the Rangers bullpen, tie the game with two runs in the eighth, then put up three in the top of the ninth.

If the Rangers have any kind of fight in them, they have yet to show it. If they have any kind of run ahead, they have yet to give fans cause to believe in it. 

Baseball is such a weird sport. Friday, deGrom has one of his worst starts ever and the Rangers win. Saturday, Gore has one of this best starts ever and the Rangers lose.

This is what being a struggling team is all about.

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