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Flirting with history, Astros take first of the series

ARLINGTON — Well, they weren’t no-hit.

Barely.

The Rangers totaled 31 hits (and 17 runs) in the first two games of their four-game home series vs. the Houston Astros. They had just two — an Adolis Garcia single in the sixth inning, and a Justin Foscue RBI single in the ninth — in Sunday’s 3-1 loss at Houston starter Ronel Blanco flirted with history. The 30-year-old right-hander no-hit the Toronto Blue Jays on Monday, and tried to join an exclusive club six days later; only Cincanitti’s Johnny Vander Meer (1938) has ever thrown a no-hitter in consecutive starts.

Texas avoided that, at least. Not much else worked on the offensive end though.

Here are three observations from the Rangers’ first loss in this year’s installment of the Silver Boot Series.

Sunlight hits the Texas Rangers World Series championship banner as the roof at Globe Life Field opens before an MLB game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
The Texas Rangers stand for the national anthem before a game against the Houston Astros at Globe Life Field, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim and starting pitcher Dane Dunning walk to the dugout before a game against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Fans shield their eyes from the sun during an MLB game between the Texas Rangers and the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis García takes the field before the first inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis García (53) makes a catch for an out during the first inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers center fielder Travis Jankowski (16) catches a fly ball from Houston Astros right fielder Kyle Tucker for an out during the first inning, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim talks with starting pitcher Dane Dunning (33) during the third inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Houston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve breaks his bat on a foul ball during the third inning against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim flies out to center during the second inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers left fielder Evan Carter (32) fouls a ball off during the fourth inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco (56) delivers a pitch during the fourth inning against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers designated hitter Wyatt Langford (36) flies out to left during the sixth inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy (15) takes the ball from pitcher Dane Dunning (33) as he’s removed from the game during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis García (53) celebrates after a hit breaks up a no-hitter by Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco during the sixth inning, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers pitcher Dane Dunning (33) delivers during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Peña (3) safely steals second base ahead of the tag from Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (2) during the seventh inning, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Smith (8) flies out to left during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Smith (8) watches the ball as he runs to first base during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Grant Anderson throws during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Smith (8) rounds the bases after flying out to left during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers pitcher Dane Dunning (33) walks to the dugout after being pulled during the seventh inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis García (53) reacts after a called strike during the ninth inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers left fielder Evan Carter (32) makes a catch for an out during the eighth inning, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Smith (8) waits for a pitch during the eight inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers right fielder Adolis García (53) looks up after hitting a foul ball during the ninth inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob Latz (67) throws during the eighth inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)
Texas Rangers pinch hitter Justin Foscue (56) singles to center to record his first career hit during the ninth inning against the Houston Astros, Sunday, April 7, 2024, in Arlington. Right fielder Adolis García scored on the play.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

So much for that offense: The whole “had just two hits” thing might’ve spoiled this category. Blanco held the Rangers hitless through 5 and 2/3 innings until Garcia grounded a slider away back up the middle for the Rangers’ first base hit. Rangers rookie Justin Foscue, who was promoted to the major leagues on Tuesday after third baseman Josh Jung broke his wrist against the Tampa Bay Rays, recorded his first career hit in the ninth inning vs. Astros closer Josh Hader.

Foscue, who pinch hit for Evan Carter, slapped a 97.5-mph sinker from Hader up the middle to drive in Garcia (walk) for his first career hit and RBI.

That was about it.

Aside from a pair of full-count walks from Carter and Jared Walsh in the second inning and two more walks from Josh Smith and Travis Jankowski in the fourth, there wasn’t a whole lot doing for the Rangers. Most notably: Texas’ top three hitters (Marcus Semien, Corey Seager and Wyatt Langford) combined to go 0 for 12 with seven flyouts.

It wasn’t fluky, either. Against Blanco, the Rangers only batted three balls into play with an expected batting average higher than .220; a Seager flyout in the third inning, a Semien groundout in the fifth and Garcia’s single.

Dane Dunning’s start: Outside of one singular inning, it wasn’t all that bad.

That one inning turned out to be the final blow, though.

Dunning, in the third, issued one-out, full-count walks to No. 9 hitter Jake Meyers and leadoff hitter Jose Altuve. Designated hitter Yordan Alavarez made him pay, and drilled an inside cutter 378 feet into the right field stands for a three-run home run.

“It wasn’t really [the home run], it’s the two walks before that,” Dunning said. “I had Meyers set up and walked him on a 3-2 … I thought I threw a quality pitch to Altuve, didn’t get the call, that happens. From there I need to bear down and make a pitch to Yordan.”

Dunning lasted 6 and 2/3 innings, allowed just those three runs on four hits and three walks, and struck out seven batters.

So far, so good for Texas Rangers bullpen in 2024. Now it faces first real test

Best emergency preparedness: Right-handed pitcher Grant Anderson was not on the major league roster Sunday morning. But, after the Rangers place reliever Josh Sborz on the 15-day injured list with a right rotator cuff strain, Texas recalled Anderson.

He made his season debut in the top of the seventh inning in relief of Dunning. With Jeremy Pena on second base, Anderson struck out Houston leadoff hitter Jose Altuve to end the eighth. Anderson fell behind 3-0 in the count, but rallied back with three-straight called strikes to ring Altuve up.

Twitter: @McFarland_Shawn

    Texas Rangers rookie Justin Foscue gets first hit, RBI of major league career
    So far, so good for Texas Rangers bullpen in 2024. Now it faces first real test

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