MINNEAPOLIS — The Texas Rangers’ postseason hopes ended on the final day of the regular season Sunday when Josh Bell drove in three runs and the Minnesota Twins held on for a 6–4 victory at Target Field.
Texas needed a win and a Houston loss to the Athletics to capture the American League West. The Rangers instead finished 80–82, while Houston won 9–0 to finish 81–81 and claim the division.
Dean Kremer kept Texas quiet for seven innings, allowing one run on three hits with four strikeouts and no walks. Minnesota finished 77–85 after taking a four-run lead into the ninth and withstanding Corey Seager’s two-run homer.
Bell supplied the early offense. His first-inning sacrifice fly scored Luke Keaschall, and he put the Twins ahead for good with a two-run homer in the third after Danny Jansen’s solo shot had tied the game.
The Twins added two runs in the fifth as Texas worked through its pitching staff. Ryan Jeffers drew a bases-loaded walk to force home Walker Jenkins, and Kody Clemens followed with an RBI single that scored Keaschall for a 5–1 lead.
Elias Díaz homered for the Rangers in the eighth, but Royce Lewis answered with a solo shot in the bottom half. Seager’s 20th homer, with Brandon Nimmo aboard in the ninth, brought Texas within two runs. Minnesota finished the inning without allowing another score.
MacKenzie Gore started for Texas and gave up one run in 2 1/3 innings. The Rangers used seven pitchers overall, including six through the first five innings, while Kremer handled most of the afternoon for Minnesota. Chase Silseth surrendered Bell’s homer and took the loss.
Jeffers, Jenkins and Lewis each had two hits for the Twins. Keaschall scored three times after reaching on two walks and a hit-by-pitch. All four Texas runs came on its three home runs.
The defeat left the Rangers outside the postseason for a third consecutive year after their 2023 World Series championship. Texas finished 35–46 on the road, according to MLB.com, and could not turn its final opportunity into the win it needed to keep pressure on Houston.
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This page is an original Sporting Page summary. The reporting remains with MLB official box score and play-by-play.
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