Thoughts on a 9-0 loss

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ARLINGTON, TX - MAY 25: Cam Smith #11 of the Houston Astros slides safely into to second base in the six inning during the game between the Houston Astros and the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Monday, May 25, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Sam Hodde/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images

Astros 9, Rangers 0

• How embarrassing.
• I actually had the notion of a no hitter going through my head in the early innings. When the Astros scored on a walk, a stolen base, an advancement on a ground ball and a sac fly, and then didn’t do anything the next couple of innings…
• I said to myself, “What if the Rangers no hit the Astros and still lose? Wouldn’t that be such a 2026 Texas Rangers thing to happen?
• On the heels of Reid Detmers striking out 14 and holding the Rangers to one hit after eight innings, we get this.
• A combination no-hitter from Tatsuya Imai, Steven Okert and Alimber Santa.
• Being no hit by an Astros team with one of the worst pitching staffs in baseball.
• Its a long season. There’s a lot of baseball still to be played. The American League West is ass.
• But still. Its hard to shake the feeling, at this very moment, that this team is a thousand miles from nowhere.
• Maybe when Michael Helman isn’t starting at shortstop, when Justin Foscue isn’t starting at second base, when Texas doesn’t have Joc Pederson and Andrew McCutchen playing the corner outfield spots, when Josh Jung’s shoulder is better and Corey Seager’s back is better and Wyatt Langford’s arm is better and Josh Smith’s viral meningitis is better, things will be clicking and the offense will be scoring some runs and vibes will be good.
• But right now? Right now it feels like shades of 2021. And 2021 was miserable.
• Kumar Rocker’s sinker topped out at 95.9 mph, averaging 93.8 mph. Peyton Gray’s fastball touched 94.8 mph. Chris Martin hit 95.3 mph with his fastball. Sam Haggerty’s fastest pitch was 35.4 mph.
• Joc Pederson had a 105.4 mph ground out. Justin Foscue had a 101.3 mph ground out.
• I’m not going to say it can’t get any worse, because every time we say that it does get worse. But the chances are the next game will be better?

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