Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) and right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) walk back to their positions after Cincinnati Reds center fielder Tyler Stephenson hit a two-run homer during the ninth inning of the home opener at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington. The Reds defeated the Rangers 5-3.
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ARLINGTON — The “opening weekend” branding behind home plate and around the stadium is a tad misleading. The Rangers started the regular season eight days ago, technically, across the country against the Philadelphia Phillies.
The result was the same nonetheless.
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4-year-old Hayden Davenport hits off an air powered batting tee before the Texas Rangers home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Fans tailgate before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Baseball fans cross Randol Mill Road as they make their way to Globe Life Field before the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Security workers patrol the North Plaza before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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The Texas Rangers grounds crew places first base into place before the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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A party “boat” cruises outside the stadium before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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The Budweiser Clydesdales make their way around the warning track before the Texas Rangers home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Rangers Sports Network host Elvis Andrus wears the 9th Inning Rally Sombrero alongside co-host Jared Sandler before the Texas Rangers home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers fans cheer as outfielder Evan Carter (32) is introduced before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers right fielder Andrew McCutchen (right) fist bumps his teammates during player introductions before the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Fans watch pregame festivities before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker (55) high fives pitcher Jacob Degrom during pregame introductions before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker greets Cincinnati Reds manager Terry Francona before the home opener at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Dallas Stars goaltender Jake Oettinger throws a ceremonial first pitch before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Dallas Stars goaltender and Olympic gold medalist Jake Oettinger throws the ceremonial first pitch before the Texas Rangers home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Dallas Stars goaltender and Olympic gold medalist Jake Oettinger reacts after throwing the ceremonial first pitch before the Texas Rangers home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers manager Skip Schumaker (55) exchanges lineups with Cincinnati Reds third base coach Willie Harris before a baseball game at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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The Texas Rangers and Cincinnati Reds stand as country music artist Neal McCoy performs the national anthem before the home opener at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers fans wear the jerseys of former players Marcus Semien and Adolis García before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Fans raise their caps as Neal McCoy sings the national anthem before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) throws during the first inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers starting pitcher MacKenzie Gore (1) walks to the dugout after striking out Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz during the first inning of the home opener at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford bats during the first inning a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) reacts after striking out during the first inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) reacts after striking out during the first inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) pumps his fist as he score a run during the second inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) high fives center fielder Evan Carter (32) as they score a pair of runs during the second inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen (9) reacts after scoring two on a double to left during the second inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Ezequiel Duran (20) celebrates a pair of runs scored by Evan Carter (32) and Josh Jung (6)during the second inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington. The Reds defeated the Rangers 5-3.
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Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung (6) fields a ground ball from Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz and throws to second base for an out during the third inning of the home opener at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Baseball fans react as a foul ball bounces off the steps near them during the fifth inning of the Texas Rangers home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) fields a hit off the bat of Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (9) during the fifth inning of the home opener at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) jogs to the dugout after making a running catch for an out during the fifth inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo (24) fouls off a pitch near his foot during the fifth inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) triples to right field during the fifth inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) catches a fly ball off the bat of Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain for an out during the seventh inning of the home opener at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington. The Reds defeated the Rangers 5-3.
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Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) rounds first base on a triple to right field during the fifth inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington.
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Texas Rangers center fielder Evan Carter (32) fields a single from Cincinnati Reds third baseman Ke’bryan Hayes during the seventh inning of the home opener at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington. The Reds defeated the Rangers 5-3.
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Texas Rangers relief pitcher Chris Martin (31) throws during the ninth inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington. The Reds defeated the Rangers 5-3.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) throws to first for an out during the ninth inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington. The Reds defeated the Rangers 5-3.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Chris Martin (31) watches a replay after giving up a two-run home run during the ninth inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington. The Reds defeated the Rangers 5-3.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Chris Martin (31) sits in the dugout after giving up two runs during the ninth inning of the home opener against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field, Friday, April 3, 2026, in Arlington. The Reds defeated the Rangers 5-3.
Elías Valverde II/The Dallas Morning News
The Rangers lost their home opener 5-3 vs. the Cincinnati Reds — the same score as their season-opening loss last week — Friday at Globe Life Field. They were done in by a ninth-inning meltdown and another wasted opportunity from a closer candidate.
Here are five thoughts from the loss.
The closer issue is still an issue: The Rangers entered the top of the ninth inning tied. They left it with a deficit.
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Right-hander Chris Martin allowed a leadoff double to Reds left fielder Spencer Steer before catcher Tyler Stephenson hit a go-ahead two-run home run into the home bullpen. It was not a save opportunity because the game was tied, but it was further proof that the Rangers have work to do at the back end of their bullpen, especially with an offense and rotation that will keep them competitive late into games.
The Rangers tied the game in the seventh inning when right fielder Brandon Nimmo laced a one-out triple off of right-hander Graham Ashcraft and left fielder Wyatt Langford drove him in with a double. They went down in order in the bottom of the ninth.
GoreTex: Rangers manager Skip Schumaker said pregame that left-hander MacKenzie Gore’s season debut against the Philadelphia Phillies was even better the second time he watched it a day later.
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The 27-year-old tried his best for a repeat.
Gore allowed three runs on six hits, nine strikeouts and zero walks in six innings. The Reds pounced on a pair of mistake pitches for their three runs. Left fielder Spencer Steer yanked a cutter in the zone for a two-run home run in the second and shortstop Elly De La Cruz slapped a hung curveball over the left field fence for a go-ahead solo shot in the sixth.
He struck out batters on five different pitches against the Phillies. He used just three Friday and got the Reds to strike out on his four-seam fastball five times.
Two-out magic: The Rangers continued a trend that began in Wednesday’s series finale against the Baltimore Orioles in the second inning of Friday’s home opener when they strung together three consecutive two-out hits for two runs that tied the game.
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Third baseman Josh Jung reached on a 101.9 mph single against Cincinnati right-hander Brady Singer, center fielder Evan Carter followed with a 106.5 mph double and catcher Danny Jansen drove both in with a 103.3 mph double of his own. Nimmo moved Jansen to third base on a single before Langford flew out. It was the second time in as many games that the Rangers charted four-straight two-out hits.
The Rangers hit .312 with two outs in the season’s first six games, better than all but three teams leaguewide, and 76 percentage points improved from last year. It’s another example of the team-oriented at-bats that Rangers manager Skip Schumaker has stressed: It means innings are extended, pressure is exerted and pitchers are forced to work.
Hardball: The Rangers totaled a dozen hard hits — batted balls with an exit velocity of 95 mph or greater — in five innings against Singer. Five were hit in the second inning when the Rangers rallied for the pair of two-out runs. First baseman Jake Burger chased him from the game with a 104.2 mph leadoff double in the sixth.
Their 38.1% hard-hit percentage and 90.8 mph average exit velocity both ranked second in the American League through the season’s first six games. It is not the be-all-end-all of offensive success. It is a sign, though, that the Rangers are dialed in early to square up on balls.
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A missed opportunity: Carter will see some — but not all — left-handed pitchers. He faced one Friday in a crucial spot
The Rangers let Carter, who is 5 for 64 all-time against southpaws, face left-hander Sam Moll with two outs and the tying run at third base in the sixth inning. Carter struck out on three consecutive sweepers and stranded Burger at third base. Schumaker could’ve pinch-hit outfielder Sam Haggerty, a career .282 hitter against lefties, in that instance. Instead he gave his young outfielder a high-leverage chance.
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It didn’t work Friday.
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They’ll hope the experience leads to a more successful one in the future.
Find more Rangers coverage from The Dallas Morning News here.