Casey Legumina inherited two runners and got tagged when a Taylor Walls error let one score, tying it at 1-1. But the Rays bullpen buckled down from there, and Tampa Bay's offense did just enough against a Rangers pitching staff that's been vulnerable most of the year.
Texas answered right back with a run in the fifth to briefly grab a 2-1 lead, but the Rangers only managed 2 hits all afternoon — a stark contrast from the lineup that's carried them to a one-game cushion atop the AL West. Tampa Bay chipped away with runs in the sixth and eighth to retake the lead for good, getting a full team effort out of the bullpen after their ace exited.
Both clubs are dealing with battered rosters right now. Texas is still missing Corey Seager, Josh Jung, Danny Jansen and multiple pitchers, though Seager is reportedly trending toward an activation soon. Tampa Bay's list runs even longer with arms stacked on the 60-day IL, which makes McClanahan's exit sting that much more given how thin the depth chart already looked behind him.
It's a costly one for Texas either way — they came in a half-game up on Houston in the AL West and left Tropicana Field having dropped 2 of 3 to a Rays team that just keeps finding ways to win close ones at home.