Texas Mess: Rays 7, Rangers 6

Death, taxes, and the Rays having a horrible time in Globe Life Field.

It’s been 4 years since the Rays last win in Arlington, Texas. On this night, they turned to a former Ranger to break the long losing streak. Nick Martinez has been the Rays stopper all season, and once again he answered the call.

6.1 IP 5 H, 2 BB, 4 Ks, and at his hand just a solo HR given up. Now his final earned run line looked a bit uglier thanks to Garrett Cleavinger, but make no mistake, Martinez was exactly the man the Rays needed to finally break the Globe Life curse. Well, the win and loss curse at least.

On the night when the Rays finally got their first win since June 2nd 2022 in Globe Life, it came at the cost of three of their key pitchers. Before the game Shane McClanahan and Manny Rodriguez were announced added to the 15-day IL. But it was the end of the game, with All Star closer Bryan Baker, in the midst of a an all time Rays season for a reliever, would leave the game wincing and twisting looking anything but comfortable. Hopefully precautions abound, but the Rays pen has been a struggle all season and they can ill afford to miss Baker for any amount of time.

Can’t wallow in the unknown, so back to what happened earlier on the field and Nick Martinez. More than anything, Martinez gave the Rays room to breathe a little. Just stay within a game and feel like they had a true punchers chance to take a game from Texas in Texas. He gave time for the bats to find ways to get the lead and extend a lead and hit with a lead. And he turned the ball over to the pen with only 8 outs to cover and 5 runs to protect. Hard to ask more than that from the ace of the Rays.

Speaking of the Rays hitters, a night after floundering without a hope or prayer vs Cal Quantril, they faired much better vs former 1st round Vanderbilt star Kumar Rocker. Rocker came in after an opener, which how it ended up mostly was academic as he entered to start the 3rd facing Rays leadoff hitter Yandy Diaz.

In terms of Rays hitters, perhaps nobody needed a big night more than Jonathan Aranda. Aranda has not been his normal self for several months, but the All Star level hitter is still in there, and tonight he was the engine that drove the Rays offense.

Aranda tied up the game in the 3rd greeting Rocker with a loud solo HR. The homer came the inning following the Rangers jumping out to an early lead the inning before on their own solo HR. Having that answer immediately showed some fight desperately needed vs a fellow playoff contender.

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Richie Palacios would follow that up with a solo shot of his own to give the Rays a lead which somehow, and frankly unbelievably, they would not relinquish.

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He would follow that up in his next at bat by doubling in Yandy Diaz who had a double himself to extend the Rays lead. Junior Caminero would have a double of his own, followed by more hits from Mesa, and Chandler, and even a productive albeit rally killing run scoring double play by Cedric Mullins, would all work to give the Rays a 6-1 lead.

But this is Texas and nothing is easy. Or fun. Or without agony.

After Nick Martinez was unable to get through the 7th to save the pen, Cash would call upon Garrett Cleavinger to try and clean up the mess.

Now, I have a strategy that I think could work well for the Rays: whoever Kevin Cash will call upon to get warm in a hurry and come in to clean up Cleavingers mess, just use that guy first instead.

Well, that bit of analytics has not made its way to the dugout yet, and instead Cleavinger would immediately walk the first batter he faced loading the bases. 9th hole hitter Elias Diaz would then hit a grand slam to bring Texas back within a run 6-5.

Cleavinger was given another batter to maybe try and get an out. Unfortunately, not gonna happen. After another single, Cleavinger would be replaced by Cam Booser would would clean up the mess and induce an inning ending double play vs Corey Seager to escape the inning with Martinez still the pitcher of record.

Garrett Cleavinger’s line tonight: 0 outs recorded, 2 hits 2 ER 1 BB

The rest of the way Cash used the few reliable high leverage arms he had. Kevin Kelly continued his great season, working a scoreless 8th.

In the 9th Baker would take the ball, and mentioned at the top, never quite looked right before departing. Two walks, no outs, and we wait with bated breath.

Tyler Wells would get the call to try and hang on to the win, and much like the rest of the Rays 2026 deadline, would deliver. Big save, huge win, and maybe just maybe now the Rays can take less than 4 years before their next win in Arlington.

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