Schumaker Labels Defensive Collapse an Outlier
Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker defended his team's defense following a 6-3 loss to the New York Mets on Tuesday, describing the defensive struggles as an "outlier game." The Rangers' defense has been strong throughout the season, according to Schumaker, who spoke on "The Skip Schumaker Show," a pregame segment posted by the Rangers Sports Network.
Schumaker attributed some of the miscues during Tuesday's game to miscommunication and mental blunders. He specifically addressed pitcher MacKenzie Gore’s five-inning performance, stating that Texas did not play clean behind the left-hander.
Key Defensive Mispays in Tuesday's Loss
The Rangers suffered three runs scoring on defensive misplays during the loss to the Mets. In the third inning, Francisco Alvarez led off with a double and moved to third base on a groundout. Alvarez scored on an error by Brandon Nimmo after Carson Benge hit a ground-rule double. Nimmo was charged with the only Texas error in the game.
Another run scored in the sixth inning when first baseman Jake Burger made a catch and double-pumped, allowing Alvarez to score from third base.
Burger Criticizes Divisional Performance
First baseman Jake Burger said Texas pitchers have been giving the team a chance every night. However, Burger criticized the team's inability to win the division while playing defensively poorly on three separate occasions.
Schumaker suggested that even if second baseman Justin Foscue had caught a ball earlier in the game, the run likely would have scored due to the situation being first and third.
Series Standings and Wednesday's Lineup
The loss dropped the Rangers into a tie with the Houston Astros atop the American League West at 78-79. Houston holds the tiebreaker after winning the season series 9-4.
Wednesday’s lineup changes include moving Ezequiel Duran from center field to third base and shifting Josh Jung from third base to designated hitter. Cody Bradford is scheduled to start for Texas against Mets rookie right-hander Nolan McLean on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. CT. The series ends Thursday at 1:35 p.m. CT.