Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter reacts after lining out to center field on a hard hit ball to end the eighth inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer
ARLINGTON — The discussions that followed Sunday’s sweep-clinching loss included an offense that fell short with runners on base, a starter who was lights out, a late-game bullpen mishap and a ballpark that seemed to swallow some balls alive.
You’d think the calendar turned back a year if it weren’t for the half-a-foot height difference between the current manager and the previous one.
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The Rangers lost 2-1 vs. the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field despite five innings of one-run ball and a nine-strikeout performance from right-handed pitcher Jack Leiter. They hit balls hard but finished 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position. They sent one of their highest-leverage arms in to protect a tied game in the eighth inning but exited with a deficit after left-hander Robert Garcia struggled to find his command and allowed a run on two walks and a hit. They had runners on the corners in the bottom half of that inning and fell just a few feet short of a go-ahead three-run home run.
“I think we hit some balls hard in this ballpark that would be hits elsewhere,” designated hitter Joc Pederson said, “but this is our field, and we’ve got to find a way to manufacture runs.”
Globe Life Field had the third-lowest park factor leaguewide last season, per Baseball Savant, which classifies it as a pitcher’s paradise. It contributed to a teamwide 66-point drop in on-base plus slugging percentage from the road to home, and in the offseason, Rangers executives acknowledged the issue but didn’t plan to make any overcorrections.
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The Rangers hit 33 balls into play that carried an average exit velocity of 95 mph or greater in the three-game series. Only one-third of them landed for base hits. Pederson hit a 361-foot home run off of Reds right-hander Chase Burns in the seventh inning of Sunday’s loss that initially looked like a no-doubter off of the bat but landed just a few rows into the seats. Catcher Kyle Higashioka hit a 407-foot flyout to center field two batters later. Center fielder Evan Carter, in the eighth, hit a 405-foot flyout that landed short of the wall on the warning track that would’ve scored three runs had it cleared the fence.
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The Globe Life Field roof was open for the first time Sunday afternoon, and the wind might’ve played a factor. Schumaker said that it felt like it blew out from the dugout, while infielders felt it swirled and outfielders thought that it blew in. Leiter said the wind felt like it “was in every direction” over the course of his start and even contributed to an early lack of command for his off-speed pitches.
Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter delivers during the first inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer
“The first changeup I threw was a slider, pretty much,” Leiter said. “That’s never fun.”
Carter laughed and said “not here” when asked if he thought the ball had a chance to leave the yard. That had less to do with any park effects or weather, he said, and more to do with the fact that it would’ve taken some serious juice to hit a dead-center home run. Schumaker thought otherwise.
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“I thought that was going to be the game right there,” Schumaker said, “where we put a crooked number up and hopefully things change.”
Instead it resembled too much of the same from a season that ended with a .500 record. Garcia, who served as closer last year until a midseason demotion, entered in the eighth and walked leadoff hitter Matt McLain on five pitches. McLain stole second base and scored the go-ahead run on a single from shortstop Elly De La Cruz.
Schumaker said the Rangers used Garcia in the eighth against a right-handed heavy lineup to force De La Cruz, an All-Star switch hitter, to bat from the right side of the plate. De La Cruz has a career .845 OPS against right-handers as a left-handed hitter; he has a career .650 OPS against left-handers as a right-handed hitter.
“But, when you walk guys, stuff happens when you walk guys,” Schumaker said. “Elly burned us.”
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At least the wind cooled them down.
Cincinnati Reds outfielders, from left, TJ Friedl, Dane Myers and Will Benson celebrate after the final out of baseball game against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung reacts after striking out for the final out of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager sits in the dugout during the ninth inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter avoids a collision with Wyatt Langford as he makes a catch on a fly ball by Ke’Bryan Hayes of the Cincinnati Reds during the ninth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds center fielder Dane Myers makes a catch on the warning track on a line drive off the bat of Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter during the eighth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer
Fans reach for a foul ball during the eighth inning of baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers first baseman Jake Burger advanced to third on a wild pitch around the tag from Cincinnati Reds third baseman Ke’bryan Hayes (3) during the eighth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager heads to the dugout after striking out during the eighth inning during the eighth inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager strikes out swinging as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson holds on to the ball during the eighth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly de la Cruz (44) steals second base ahead of the throw to Texas Rangers second baseman Josh Smith (8) during the eighth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter steals second base ahead of the throw to Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain during the seventh inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter beats out an infield single ahead of the throw to Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart during the seventh inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson celebrates in the dugout after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson reacts after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson tosses his batt in celebration after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson reacts after hitting a solo home run during the seventh inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
Smiley N. Pool/Staff Photographer
Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford steals second base as Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain leaps for the throw during the sixth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds first baseman Sal Stewart (27) chase down a popup off the bat of Texas Rangers outfielder Wyatt Langford before throwing out outfielder Brandon Nimmo at second base during the sixth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers fan Heather Hawley wears bunny ears for an Easter Sunday baseball game at Globe Life Field as shortstop Corey Seager bats during the fourth inning against the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Cincinnati Reds outfielder Spencer Steer strikes out on a pitch from Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter as catcher Kyle Higashioka works behind the plate during the fourth inning of baseball game at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter delivers during the third inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter delivers during the third inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Jack Leiter delivers during the first inning of baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager takes the field for a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers pitcher Luis Curvelo (57) stands for the national anthem before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager stretches before a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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Fans head to the stadium before a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and the Cincinnati Reds at Globe Life Field on Sunday, April 5, 2026.
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