Buschwhacked! Texas Rangers offense wilts against rookie debut; Cardinals win series

ST. LOUIS – The Texas Rangers limp back to Arlington after an unforgettable 1-5 road series, in which they were outclassed by the Toronto Blue Jays and St. Louis Cardinals 41-19.

The Cardinals dispatched the Rangers 10-1 on Wednesday afternoon at Busch Stadium.

The Rangers (52-57) fell to five games below .500 as they desperately try to stay relevant in the American League West.

Andrew Heaney was outscored by Cardinals rookie right-hander Michael McGreevy, making his MLB debut. Heaney gave up six runs on six hits and a walk in 4 1/3 innings. The Cardinals scored three times in the second and added five more in the fifth. Alec Burleson’s two-run single chased Heaney with one out in the fifth.

Jose Leclerc took over the batting average, but struck out just one batter. He was beaten on three hits for two runs before Dane Dunning replaced him for the final out in the fifth inning.

McGreevy held the Rangers to one run on three hits and a walk, while striking out three batters in seven innings. The Rangers scored a run in the sixth on three straight singles by Josh Smith, Corey Seager and Marcus Semien. Those were the first hits McGreevy allowed since Semien’s first-inning double. The Rangers were held to five hits.

The Rangers’ bottom six batters combined to go 1-for-17, with the lone hit being a single by catcher Carson Kelly in his Texas debut.

The Rangers were held to five or fewer hits for the 25th time in 2024. The club had 26 such games in 2023. Conversely, Rangers pitchers allowed 14 or more hits for the ninth time this season. A year ago, they had 10 such games.

Marcus Semien doubled in the first inning. It was his 300th career double. He is tied for 486th all-time with Jason Heyward, Gregg Jefferies, Jayson Werth and Roy White. Semien is in his 12th season. It was Semien’s 20th double in 2024 and the second since he moved from leadoff to hole 3.

Andrew Heaney lasted 4 1/3 on Wednesday, his shortest start since he threw 3 1/3 innings at Philadelphia on May 23. He allowed four runs (three earned) on nine hits and two walks in the loss. In his seven previous starts, Heaney threw at least five innings, including a season-record seven innings at Baltimore on June 30.

The Rangers have Thursday off before opening a weekend series against the Boston Red Sox at 7:05 p.m. Friday at Globe Life Field. Neither club has named its starting pitcher for Friday.

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