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A fan dressed as Santa Claus waches the action during first half action against the Philadelphia Eagles at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park on Dec. 28, 2025. | Tina MacIntyre-Yee/Democrat and Chronicle / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
The Texas Rangers had zero hits but the Houston Astros scored nine runs.
I think in some regards it is at least interesting that we are getting to experience the worst lineup that perhaps the Rangers have ever fielded in franchise history. It certainly isn’t pleasant but at least it’s historic.
All you really need to know about this game from a Rangers perspective is Kumar Rocker hit the first batter of the night and that runner eventually scored without the benefit of a Houston hit. Meanwhile, in the bottom of the inning, the Rangers drew three walks and didn’t score a run. It was over right then and there, essentially.
Before it ended, however, Sam Haggerty pitched a scoreless final inning for Texas. It was the best performance by Sam Haggerty on a baseball field all year. Sam Haggerty is a hitter*.
*it says that on his business card at least
By that final inning the Rangers had not had a hit all night. They did not get a hit that inning, either. The night’s starter Tatsuya Imai came into the evening with a 8.31 ERA. He’s now sporting a svelte 6.17 ERA. The final six outs came via a guy named Santa making his MLB debut. Merry Christmas!
This Texas lineup followed up a 16-strikeout almost perfect game last night with the first no-hitter in the big leagues in like two years. I’ve written this like it’s an achievement for the lineup because it very much is. Congratulations on finally securing that no-hitter, fellas!
Player of the Game: Dan Jansen fielded a throw on a delayed squeeze play bunt where Jansen caught the ball flipped from in front of the plate by Rocker and immediately moved his knee/leg further away from the plate as to provide the Astros’ runner a red carpet experience on his way to scoring Houston’s third run.
I’ve appreciated the moment because it allowed me to no longer invest emotions into tonight’s game. Thanks, Dan.
Up Next: The Rangers will play the Astros on Tuesday night. Someone will pitch for Texas against someone for Houston thanking their lucky stars that they get to face the Rangers.
The first pitch from The Shed will be at 7:05 pm CDT. It’ll be on the Rangers Sports Network if you want to tune in.
People might show up and take their off shirts in a section of the top deck in the hopes of going viral on social media.
They might do the pledge of allegiance during the seventh inning.
The Rangers will allow a first inning run.
You won’t know whether or not the Rangers will get a hit all evening and that will replace the suspense that used to exist for the outcome of the run column.
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