By Wire Service and Staff Reports
ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers had a difficult game at the plate and were unable to make up ground after an untimely first-inning error en route to a 4-1 loss against the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday.
The throw by third baseman Isiah Kiner-Falefa led to three unearned runs against starter Kyle Gibson at Globe Life Field, and the Rangers dropped to 1-3 this season.
Gibson, a Greenfield native, absorbed the tough-luck loss. The right-hander was charged with three unearned runs on five hits. He walked three batters through 5.0 innings pitched and recorded four strikeouts.
The only runs scored against Gibson came during the Rangers’ lackluster first inning, which included Kiner-Falefa’s two-out throwing error.
Gibson threw 93 pitches with 55 going for strikes during his first start of the season and first with his new club in Texas. Gibson spent the past seven seasons with the Minnesota Twins at the Major League level, beginning in 2013.
Last season, he carried a 4.84 ERA and a 13-7 record despite contending with health issues. In 2018, he went 10-13 with a 3.62 ERA for the Twins.
At 0-1 with Texas, Gibson held the Diamondbacks to a .263 batting average against during his first start.
The Rangers have now lost three straight games after a 1-0 win on Opening Day. Texas has plated only six runs in its first four games.
On Tuesday, the Rangers were held without a hit for 6.1 innings by Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly before Rougned Odor hit his first home run to breakup the no-hitter.
The Rangers recorded three hits off Kelly and relievers Andrew Chafin and Archie Bradley. The team is hitting .156 to start the season.
This was the second time in four games they were no-hit through five innings, according to MLB.com reporters.
Gibson started the first-inning woes by issuing a two-out walk to Starling Marte. Eduardo Escobar then lined a single to center and Marte headed for third. Center fielder Danny Santana tried to get him, but his throw was off-target and Escobar went to second.
Christian Walker followed with a one-hopper right at Kiner-Fafela. His throw to first baseman Todd Frazier was low and to the right of the base. Frazier reached for it, but couldn’t make the catch. The ball rolled behind him and two runs scored.
Walker went to second on the play, then came home on David Peralta’s single to center.
“Mistakes are a part of the game,” Gibson told MLB.com reporters. “It’s just one of those plays that didn’t get made. It’s not a big deal. For me, I’m more disappointed that I gave up that extra hit and the extra run in that situation. I try to pride myself on being able to get out of that inning and pick them up. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to do that.”
Gibson topped out at 93.8 mph, but the Rangers’ top six hitters were a combined 1-for-21 with 11 strikeouts, which didn’t help matters.
“I don’t know if any team has locked up a playoff spot and I don’t know if any team has lost a playoff spot,” Gibson said. “You have to keep it in perspective as much as possible. We feel with our starting pitching, we have a chance to be in every game. I think we’ll be just fine. I don’t think it will be something where we panic.”
