Bad Beat for Rangers Bettors: Texas’ Collapse vs. Athletics the MLB’s Worst Since 2012

Bad Beat for Rangers Bettors: Texas’ Collapse vs. Athletics the MLB’s Worst Since 2012 article feature image
Credit:

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports. Pictured: Texas Rangers second baseman Rougned Odor

  • The Rangers (-102) were 429-0 in franchise history when leading by 8+ runs in the seventh inning or later.
  • They led the Athletics 10-2 in the seventh inning on Tuesday night in Arlington.
  • The Rangers are now 429-1 when leading by 8+ runs in the seventh inning or later.

The Rangers (-102) held a 10-2 lead over the Athletics in the seventh inning. Most Texas bettors probably flipped the game off at that point.

ELVIS HAS LEFT THE BUILDING! GRAND. SLAM. STYLE. 💪@Rangers lead 10-2#TexasRangerspic.twitter.com/LXljguaX3y

— FOX Sports Southwest (@FOXSportsSW) July 25, 2018

And can you blame them? The Rangers had won all 429 games in franchise history when leading by at least eight runs that late in the game. 429-0!

And MLB teams overall had won 761 straight when leading by eight-plus entering the seventh inning.

The A's have rallied from a 10-2 deficit to tie the Rangers. Teams have won 761 straight games when leading by eight runs entering the 7th since the Red Sox lost on April 21, 2012.

— David Schoenfield (@dschoenfield) July 25, 2018

Well, both of those streaks came to an end Tuesday.

Pitcher Brandon Mann took the hill for the Rangers in the top of the seventh — and naturally walked the first two batters with an eight-run lead. Smart pitching. After getting Jonathan Lucroy to fly out, he then gave up a two-run double before being pulled.

10-4.

Jose Leclerc replaced Mann and was greeted by a double, which plated another run.

10-5.

Leclerc did limit any further damage, and the Rangers headed to the bottom of the seventh inning with a five-run lead. After a leadoff walk, Texas couldn't add to its lead — but, again, Rangers bettors had a five-run cushion with six outs remaining.

Jake Diekman started off the eighth by getting Stephen Piscotty to ground out, but then walked the bases loaded. Because why throw strikes with a five-run lead?

Diekman did recover to get Marcus Semien to ground into what looked like a double play, but Elvis Andrus booted it. A run scored, and the bases remained loaded.

10-6.

Diekman then hit Nick Martini with a pitch, and Texas bettors began gulping their martinis.

10-7.

The Rangers then went to closer Keone Kela for a five-out save. Remember that the Athletics trailed by eight runs just four outs prior. That move didn't help, as Kela gave up a two-RBI single to Jed Lowrie.

10-9.

A wild pitch then put two men in scoring position. Amazingly, a simple fly ball would tie the game. However, Kela composed himself, struck out Khris Davis, then got Matt Olson to fly out to end the inning. The Rangers limped to the home half of the eighth inning, but still at least held a lead.

The Rangers once again didn't add any insurance runs, so Kela came back out for the save in the ninth — and, almost predictably, gave up a game-tying homer to Piscotty.

AND. THAT. BABY. IS. GONE.

Piscotty ties it up! pic.twitter.com/UZ3LhJozxf

— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) July 25, 2018

10-10

The Athletics didn't score again that inning, but as someone who bet the Rangers, it already felt like a loss.

And after the Rangers couldn't walk it off, we headed to extras. That's when Oakland hit the inevitable three-run homer to take a 13-10 lead — which is where the game ended.

Here's the game-winner, courtesy of KD #Khrushedpic.twitter.com/TCFU2SVfzq

— A's on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) July 25, 2018

From 10-2 to 10-13. Brutal.

If you bet the Rangers, you had a lead that 761 consecutive MLB teams held onto for a win — but you lost money.

Good luck trying to sleep tonight!

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