{"id":75373,"date":"2025-08-09T09:46:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-09T09:46:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=75373"},"modified":"2025-08-09T09:46:52","modified_gmt":"2025-08-09T09:46:52","slug":"merrill-kellys-shaky-outing-tepid-offense-dooms-rangers-against-phillies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=75373","title":{"rendered":"Merrill Kelly\u2019s Shaky Outing, Tepid Offense Dooms Rangers Against Phillies"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\"Ng\u00e0y<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

The Texas Rangers fell in the first game of their three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, 9-1, at Globe Life Field.<\/p>\n

The Rangers (60-57) managed just one run off Phillies starter Cristopher Sanchez and a solid bullpen. The offense squandered one huge opportunity to get back in the game in the fifth inning. Starter Merrill Kelly had an off night.<\/p>\n

The Phillies (66-49) won for the first time in Arlington since March 31, 2014. Philadelphia also won its first game at Globe Life Field in seven tries and snapped the Rangers\u2019 10-game winning streak over the Phillies at home.<\/p>\n

\n

Here are three thoughts on the game.<\/p>\n

\n

Aug 8, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (23) throws during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Globe Life Field. \/ Kevin Jairaj-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

As rock-solid as Merrill Kelly looked in his first start with the Rangers last weekend in Seattle, he dealt with some shakiness in his home debut.<\/p>\n

The right-hander was used to facing the Phillies on the regular in the National League. He was 2-1 with a 2.73 ERA in five starts against Philadelphia. In those five starts he had never allowed more than three earned runs.<\/p>\n

Well, that changed on Friday. Kelly was unable to get out of the fifth inning, as he gave up five hits and four runs in 4.1 innings.<\/p>\n

\n

Two things bedeviled him. First, he allowed five walks. He was never able to consistently control pitches. Second, he gave up two long balls to Kyle Schwarber and Brandon Marsh.<\/p>\n

It was a bad recipe for a starting pitcher that showed great things in his Rangers debut.<\/p>\n

“He just wasn’t as sharp as he was the previous game,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said.<\/p>\n

A MISSED OPPORTUNITY<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n

Aug 4, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) celebrates after he hits a double against the New York Yankees during the second inning at Globe Life Field. \/ Jerome Miron-Imagn Images<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Phillies left-hander Cristopher Sanchez is a hard pitcher to face. The former All-Star handled the Rangers for seven innings \u2014 aside from allowing one run in the first inning.<\/p>\n

\n

He did dodge one massive issue in the fifth inning. He loaded the bases, thanks to a single by Ezequiel Duran, a single by Corey Seager and by issuing a walk to Marcus Semien. It turned out to be Texas\u2019 only legitimate chance to get back in the game after falling behind, 4-1.<\/p>\n

Wyatt Langford flew out to left field to end the inning. By the end of the game the Rangers stranded 10 runners and were 1-for-6 with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n

Robert Garcia is now being used in lower-leverage situations after he had a rough road trip in Seattle and a rough outing against the New York Yankees. Bochy is trying to give him space to get back to the pitcher he was in June and July.<\/p>\n

\n

Maybe it\u2019s working. He pitched out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth \u2014 part of which he crated himself after relieving Kelly \u2014 and ended up pitching 1.1 innings without allowing a run.<\/p>\n

It was the first time in his last four outings that Garcia didn\u2019t give up a run. The last time he threw a scoreless outing was July 30 against the Los Angeles Angels.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a start for the left-hander, who has quality stuff and could be a valuable asset in high-leverage situations if he can show he can handle them again.<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Texas Rangers fell in the first game of their three-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies, 9-1, at Globe Life Field.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":75380,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-75373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mlb"],"yoast_head":"\nMerrill Kelly\u2019s Shaky Outing, Tepid Offense Dooms Rangers Against Phillies - NEWS USA<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.azontree.com\/?p=75373\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Merrill Kelly\u2019s Shaky Outing, Tepid Offense Dooms Rangers Against Phillies - 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