Nine Strikeouts, Zero Help: Baltimore's Ace Gets Hung Out to Dry

Shane Baz was almost untouchable Tuesday night in Arlington — eight innings, two earned runs, nine strikeouts — and still walked away with a loss. That's the kind of evening that makes a pitcher want to eat his glove. The Rangers needed exactly one big swing to make it stick. Joc Pederson went 1-for-4, but that one hit was a home run with two RBI, which turned out to be the entire margin of victory. Nathan Eovaldi did his part too, grinding through 5.1 innings and giving Texas just enough runway to reach the bullpen. Baltimore's Leody Taveras did what he could, going 2-for-4, but the Orioles managed just a single run on the night. Baz deserved better. The scoreboard, as usual, did not care.