(Jim Cowsert-USA TODAY Sports)
ARLINGTON — Just when things seemed like they couldn’t get worse for the Rangers, they got worse Monday night.
The Mets sent the Rangers to their fourth straight loss, this time a 14-2 shellacking that dropped the Rangers to a season-worst six games below .500 and into a second-place tie in the American League West, nine games back, with the Astros.
Right-hander Jon Gray was tagged for nine runs on 11 hits in three-plus innings. After allowing one run in the first inning following a leadoff single and two flares, the Mets made such hard contact and so much of it that Gray is convinced he was tipping his pitches.
“My stuff was really good,” Gray said. “I don’t care how nasty it is, I don’t care if it’s 110 mph, if they know what’s coming, they know what’s coming.”
The rare stinker from the rotation shouldn’t overshadow that the offense was unable to generate much against left-hander David Peterson, who entered with a 4.32 ERA. Robbie Grossman connected for a two-run homer in the third that made it 7-2.
The Rangers collected only six hits, and the score was lopsided enough that manager Bruce Bochy removed shortstop Corey Seager and outfielder Adolis Garcia early.
The Mets collected 22 hits.
Gray was gone two batters into the fourth, leaving the remaining six innings in the hands of Jonathan Hernandez, Cole Winn and Andrew Knizner. The catcher was making his second appearance in the past week.
That’s not good, though he did well in tossing 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Bochy wasn’t sure if it was enough to keep the Rangers from having to call up a reliever today, but the Rangers would have six relievers available to them and their innings eater, Michael Lorenzen, on the mound if they don’t make a move.
Huff starts
Jonah Heim must return to the Rangers’ active roster today after being on the paternity list for 72 hours, and that will push catcher Sam Huff back to Triple A Round Rock.
Unlike his previous opportunity this season, Huff was able to make a start.
The Rangers turned to him Monday after Knizner caught all three weekend games at Seattle. The pairing with Gray made sense, as Gray has said that he enjoys throwing to Huff.
Bochy said that the reports from Round Rock are that Huff is getting better defensively at calling games and managing pitching staffs. The Rangers signed Knizner in the offseason after Huff was given a fourth option year and after a season in which he didn’t catch enough games between Round Rock and promotions to the big leagues.
“I think he’s grown as a catcher, the importance of handling the pitching staff and game-calling,” said Bochy, a former catcher. “I think he’s matured with keeping his focus there. The hitting is secondary.”
Huff has tremendous power, arguably the best in the organization, but he has been in a homer drought at Round Rock. His last blast came May 9, and his average has dipped to .244.
All-Star voting update
Marcus Semien ranks second at second base in voting for the American League All-Star team, and he is the only Rangers player in position to be a starter for the Midsummer Classic at Globe Life Field.
Semien trails the Astros’ Jose Altuve by around 81,000 votes with 10 days left in Phase 1 voting. The top two at each position (top six outfielders) advance to the Phase 2, where the vote totals are reset and fans have three days to pick a winner.
Seager is fourth at shortstop, Garcia is ninth among outfielders and Heim, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and designated hitter Josh Jung rank fifth. Third baseman Josh Smith is sixth.
He should return to the lineup during this season after time off to rest an issue with his leg.
Vote for the Rangers up to five times a day at www.texasrangers.com/vote.
Speaking of the All-Star Game …
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It’s a pretty handy app, and if trying it out leads to winning All-Star tickets, it’s worth trying out.
Doggy video!
Doggo did nothing wrong. Enjoy.
Jeff Wilson, jeff@rangerstoday.com
