The Rangers batted nine times yesterday, as is customary. In seven of the nine innings, they went out one-two-three, as is customary as well, unfortunately.

The rest of the game, they got four hits. Four singles. Four lousy, unproductive singles. Three of them in the fifth to load the bases with one out. Then, all they could do was get a walk and a ground out to score two runs.

That’s it. Just like Tuesday’s game, when the opportunity for a big inning presented itself, the offense did the least it could do. Those two runs tied the game 2-2, but when Marcus Semien homered for the Mets in the top of the eighth, you knew the game was over. The grand slam Brett Baty hit in the top of the ninth was just piling it on.

The Rangers limped to a 7-2 loss to the Mets. But the Astros lost as well, 6-5 in ten innings. 

So, with four games to go, they are tied at 78-80. Nobody wants to win the division. Unfortunately for baseball, somebody has to.

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