Rangers Swept by Reds Despite Leiter's Strong Outing

Joc Pederson's solo homer not enough as Texas drops fourth straight

Apr. 5, 2026 at 9:35pm

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The Texas Rangers fell to the Cincinnati Reds 2-1, completing a three-game sweep for the Reds. Rangers starter Jack Leiter pitched well, striking out 9 batters over 5 innings, but the Reds scored the winning run in the 8th inning. Joc Pederson hit a solo home run to tie the game in the 6th, but the Rangers couldn't capitalize on their late-inning chances.

Why it matters

The Rangers' struggles continue as they drop below .500 on the season. Despite a strong outing from their top pitching prospect Leiter, the offense was unable to provide enough support. The sweep at the hands of the Reds raises concerns about the Rangers' ability to compete in the AL West this year.

The details

Leiter and Reds starter Chase Burns both had impressive outings, each striking out 9 batters. The difference was that the Reds were able to capitalize on a leadoff single by Elly De La Cruz in the 4th inning, as he came around to score on an RBI single by Eugenio Suarez. The Rangers had their chance to tie it in the 6th when Pederson hit a solo shot, but they couldn't push across any more runs despite having runners in scoring position later in the game. The Reds then retook the lead in the 8th on an RBI single by De La Cruz.

  • Leiter and Burns each struck out 9 batters over 5-6 innings.
  • De La Cruz led off the 4th inning with a single and came around to score the Reds' first run.
  • Pederson hit a solo home run in the 6th inning to tie the game at 1-1.
  • The Reds scored the go-ahead run in the 8th inning on De La Cruz's RBI single.

The players

Jack Leiter

The Rangers' 2021 first-round draft pick, Leiter pitched 5 innings of 1-run ball with 9 strikeouts.

Chase Burns

The Reds' 2024 first-round pick, Burns also struck out 9 batters over 6 innings of 1-run ball.

Elly De La Cruz

The Reds' speedy leadoff hitter, De La Cruz reached base twice and scored both of Cincinnati's runs.

Joc Pederson

The Rangers' veteran outfielder hit a solo home run in the 6th inning to tie the game.

Brock Burke

The Reds' reliever struck out the side in the 9th inning to preserve the win.

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What they’re saying

“It's clear that the Rangers have themselves a rare home grown established starting pitcher.”

— Christopher Fittz, Author

What’s next

The Rangers will look to bounce back as they host the Seattle Mariners for a three-game series starting on Monday. Rangers ace Jacob deGrom is expected to take the mound in the series opener.

The takeaway

Despite a strong outing from top pitching prospect Jack Leiter, the Rangers' offensive struggles continued as they were swept by the Reds. The Rangers will need to find a way to support their young pitching if they hope to compete in the AL West this season.