Carmen Mlodzinski struggles, Pirates fall to Rangers

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 21, 2026

Published in Baseball

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ARLINGTON, Texas — On Tuesday, the Pittsburgh Pirates had something they’ve barely experienced so far this season: a routine, simple loss.

The Pirates lost 5-1 to the Texas Rangers Tuesday night at Globe Life Field. There was little drama or disaster. The Rangers simply played better.

Right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski had his first off game of the season, allowing five earned runs on six hits and two walks in 4 1/3 innings. The Rangers drove up his pitch count early, resulting in him throwing 93 pitches, the most by a Pirate this year, in his short outing. He also struck out six.

He allowed two runs in the second, then three more in the fifth. The second inning runs came on a scorched Joc Pederson single, Josh Jung’s double, an Evan Carter single, then Josh Smith’s sacrifice fly. All but Jung’s double came from left-handers, something Mlodzinski has struggled with this season.

The Rangers put the game away in the fifth. Smith started the inning with a double, then facing the top of the Texas lineup for a third time, Mlodzinski allowed an RBI double to Wyatt Langford and an RBI single to Corey Seager before he was pulled. A Jung groundout against Wilber Dotel brought in the Rangers’ final run.

The only drama came in the fourth, right before the Rangers broke it open. The Pirates had runners on second and third with two outs, coming on a Jake Mangum single and Konnor Griffin reaching on a Seager error, when Oneil Cruz came to the plate. Cruz crushed a ball to left center for what would have been a go-ahead three-run homer and his seventh blast of the year, but Carter reached over the wall and pulled it back.

The Rangers went on to cruise from there.

Rangers designated hitter Andrew McCutchen was not in the lineup with right-hander Mlodzinski starting. He spent plenty of time pregame greeting Pirates teammates and coaches, including manager Don Kelly.

It was over when …

Mlodzinski allowed three more runs in the fifth. The momentum swing from Cruz’s near-homer to the Rangers’ rally felt sufficient, especially on a night where Texas got into the Pirates’ bullpen early.

On the mound

Dotel had a strange second career appearance. It started with the first batter, as Jake Burger smoked a grounder that Nick Yorke made a clean pick on at third, but the ball got stuck in Yorke’s glove. In all, Dotel wasn’t charged with a run in 1 2/3 innings, but allowed one hit and three walks. Just 13 of his 33 pitches were strikes.

Justin Lawrence pitched a 1-2-3 seventh with two strikeouts, a positive sign for the struggling right-hander. Evan Sisk allowed a double in the eighth, but also had a scoreless frame with two strikeouts.

At the plate

The Pirates scored their only run against Rangers starter Kumar Rocker in the top of the first. Cruz singled, stole second, went to third when catcher Danny Jansen’s throw went into center, then scored on Ryan O’Hearn’s single up the middle.

Mangum and Nick Gonzales each had two singles. Marcell Ozuna and Griffin both saw their hitting streaks (seven and six games, respectively) come to an end.

Most valuable player

Carter’s home run robbery, plus his RBI single, make him an easy pick. He finished 1 for 3 with a walk.

Up next

The Pirates and Rangers continue their three-game series on Wednesday at 8:10 p.m. ET. Right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (1-1, 2.38 ERA), from 100 miles away in Waco, Texas, will start for the Pirates against right-hander Jack Leiter (1-1, 4.87).

Injury notes

The Pirates have had positive news on the injury front early this season, but two minor knocks became known on Tuesday. Brandon Lowe was out of the lineup despite facing a right-hander in Rocker. Kelly said he was day-to-day with left knee discomfort, but “trending in a positive direction and hopefully available” off the bench if needed.

Additionally, Spencer Horwitz was originally scheduled to start at first base, but was taken out of the lineup with what the team termed neck discomfort.

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