Rangers' Ninth-Inning Collapse Gives Pirates Win

TL;DR

The Texas Rangers suffered a ninth-inning collapse, allowing the Pittsburgh Pirates to score four runs and secure an 8-4 victory at Globe Life Field. The game was tied 4-4 after a two-run single by Jake Burger in the eighth inning.

Key points

Rangers bullpen allowed four runs in the ninth inning
Pirates won 8-4 at Globe Life Field
Jake Burger tied the game with a two-run single

Texas RangersPittsburgh PiratesJake Burger

Things were looking pretty sweet for a Texas Rangers comeback victory as they set themselves up for a ninth-inning rally.

But the Rangers' bullpen surrendered four runs in the top of the ninth, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates earn an 8-4 win at Globe Life Field.

Jake Burger's two-run single in the bottom of the eighth tied the game at 4-4. It looked like the Rangers were going to get a chance to potentially walk it off in the bottom of the ninth.

Well, that didn't happen.

Let's break down the ninth-inning meltdown.

Nick Gonzales led off with a single to left. Spencer Horwitz followed with another single, moving Gonzales to third base. After Konnor Griffin was called out on strikes, Rangers reliever Cole Winn got Jake Mangum to ground into a fielder's choice. Gonzales scored and pinch-runner Billy Cook went to second base.

That put Pittsburgh up 5-4 at the time. Mangum reached base on the fielder's choice.

With one out, Oneil Cruz slammed a three-run home run to right field off of Winn. Cook and Mangum scored ahead of Cruz, giving the Pirates an 8-4 lead.

Winn worked just one-third of an inning, giving up two hits, three runs (all earned), didn't walk anyone, and struck out one. Winn's record falls to 1-1 on the season.