Team USA proved something to the world that Rangers fans have been painfully familiar with the last two years.

If you can’t hit, you can’t win—no matter how great your pitching is. 

The Americans ripped through Brazil and Great Britain in pool play, winning 15-5 and 9-1. Then, the offense stalled.

They beat Mexico 5-3. All five runs, however, came in the third inning. The rest of the game, the offense went dormant. Next thing you know, it’s the sixth inning of their game against Italy and they were down 8-0. The offense did come alive, but it was too late. 

They did score five runs in their first tournament game, beating Cananda 5-3, but it wasn’t a particularly dominating offensive performance. That continued when they squeaked past the Dominican Republic 2-1 to set up their showdown with Venezuela.

The supposedly mighty Team USA was held scoreless through seven innings, with just two harmless singles. A two-out, two-run homer from Bryce Harper in the bottom on the eighth miraculously tied the game. But pesky Venezuela, like they did against Japan, came storming back, scoring the eventually winning run in the top of the ninth. 

Team USA went out meekly, one-two-three, in the bottom of the ninth. And the proclaimed “best team ever” walked away second-best. Able to generate just three hits. 

Welcome to being a Rangers fan, USA. This is the frustration having no offense will leave you with. 

*****

Kansas City vs Texas, 8:05.