Rays hold on to end 10-game losing streak at Rangers

Marc Topkin, Tampa Bay Times on Sep 4, 2026

Published in Baseball

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ARLINGTON, Texas — The Rays insisted their three-plus-year losing streak, and overall dismal record, at Globe Life Field, was not in their heads.

But when they extended that skid to 10 defeats in Thursday’s series opener, then before Friday’s game lost two pitchers (starter Shane McClanahan to forearm tightness and reliever Manny Rodriguez to a back strain) to injury, it seemed fair to wonder what it would take for them to walk out of the Rangers’ oversized home happy.

Turns out, it took just a strong six-plus-inning outing from veteran starter Nick Martinez; a resuscitation of their team-approach offense, which scored a variety of ways over a number of innings; and, after struggling reliever Garrett Cleavinger gave up a seventh-inning grand slam, some clutch bullpen work by Cam Booser, Kevin Kelly and — after closer Bryan Baker left with some type of injury issue — Tyler Wells.

Friday’s 7-6 win was the Rays’ first at Globe Life since June 2, 2022 and ended their longest losing streak in an opponent’s stadium since they dropped 18 straight at Cleveland from 2005-2010.

More importantly, it improved the Rays’ American League-leading record to 84-57 and maintained at least a three-game East Division lead over the Yankees, who played late at the Padres.

The Rays, who have a tiebreaker advantage over the Blue Jays, reduced their magic number to clinch a playoff spot to seven. That celebration could come as soon as next week’s series in Atlanta.

The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a leadoff homer by Ezequiel Duran, but then the Rays started rolling.

They got even in the third, when Jonathan Aranda homered with one out, his 18th of the season. They went ahead in the fourth, when Richie Palacios homered with two outs, his seventh of the season.

And they broke the game open with four runs in the fifth with the kind of team-effort inning that typifies their offense, starting with three straight doubles to score two runs.

Yandy Diaz led off with a double, Aranda doubled him home and Junior Caminero send Aranda home. Victor Mesa Jr. singled with one out to score Caminero and moved to second on an error. Chandler Simpson hustled to beat out a grounder to short, sending Mesa to third. That mattered, as he scored on Cedric Mullins groundout to first, which turned into an inning-ending double play as Simpson got caught between second and third.

Martinez worked into the seventh, allowing one run, five hits and two walks while striking out four and throwing 90 pitches.

But he left with two on and one out, and Cleavinger quickly made it worse, walking Cody Freeman on five pitches, then allowing a grand slam to No. 9-hitting catcher Elias Diaz. A single by pinch-hitter Justin Foscue put the tying run on, but Booser came on to get Corey Seager to ground into an inning-ending double play.

Kelly got three ground-ball outs to get through the eighth, and the Rays added an insurance run in the ninth. Yandy Diaz singled with one out, pinch-runner Jorge Mateo stole second and had broken for third when Caminero delivered a clutch single to center.

The Rangers got one in the ninth, but Wells got the final three outs.

The last time the Rays won a game at Globe Life, their starter was Corey Kluber and their lineup included Randy Arozarena, Harold Ramirez, Francisco Mejia, Mike Zunino and Brett Phillips. The only current Ray who played in that game was Diaz.