Ross Detwiler didn't get the loss on Sunday after the Rangers saw two five-run leads disappear. Nope, that distinction went to closer Neftali Feliz, who was for some reason asked to throw nearly 50 pitches.
But make no mistake, the loss fell on Detwiler for his mess of a bottom of the third inning.
The Rangers' offense exploded like it really hadn't this year, putting up a seven-run third inning and chasing young Mariners starter James Paxton and giving the the Rangers an early 7-2 lead for Detwiler to feel plenty comfortable with.
Then, instead of going out and executing the shutdown inning, he went out and wet the bed to the tune of a three-run Mariners inning, including the second of two home runs he allowed to Nelson Cruz. Before that third inning was over, Detwiler was already out of the game after 61 pitches and 2 1/3 innings with five earned runs.
Once again, and this is becoming a theme, long reliever Anthony Bass pitched longer than Detwiler and threw up some scoreless frames.
It's hard to say what the Rangers could do in place of Detwiler, who has now been terrible in three straight starts, because Nick Tepesch is on the minor league DL and Lisalverto Bonilla is out for the season. Chi Chi Gonzalez isn't really ready, and Wandy Rodriguez was just signed recently.
Of course, the Rangers could stick Bass in Detwiler's spot next time around, but that means if things go bad for Bass, you'd have to turn to your long man — none other than Ross Detwiler.
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