It happened with the Red Sox clinging to a 6-4 lead and the Rangers threatening with the bases loaded. That’s when Boston pitcher Lucas Sims struck out Rookie of the Year candidate Wyatt Langford looking on a pitch that appeared well outside the strike zone. Bochy came out to argue and home plate umpire Erich Bacchus promptly tossed him.

“This kid’s gotten the bad end of those calls too many times,” Bochy told Bally Sports Southwest after the game. “It’s just gotten old and it’s hard to tell from our dugout, but I know he was frustrated…I’m just tired of him getting the bad end of those calls. It’s a big call. It changes the count, bases loaded, puts a little more pressure on the pitcher, but the call went their way.”

That call ended the inning and the Rangers didn’t score again as the Red Sox tacked on three more in the eighth.

It was the Rangers’ third loss in four games on their east coast road trip and their 12th loss in their last 16 games, effectively ending any hope at another postseason appearance.

Putting the Rangers 2024 free fall into perspective
Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) rounds the bases after hitting a home run against Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney (44) in the fifth inning at Minute Maid Park.
Thomas Shea-USA TODAY Sports
There are plenty of numbers to show how bad the Rangers have been since the last time they won a series (July 22-25 vs. the White Sox).

To start, the pitching has been terrible. The Rangers have the worst staff ERA in the game since July 26 (6.33) and the second-most walks per nine innings (3.75). Their starters alone have posted a 7.08 ERA in that time.

They’re also not hitting.