The Texas Rangers Brock Holt gets congratulations from teammate Isiah Kiner-Falefa for getting the 11th inning walk off single against the San Francisco Giants at the Ball Park in Arlington on Wed Jun 9, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The San Francisco Giants lost 4-3 in extra innings to the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field on Wednesday afternoon, missing the chance to walk away with another series victory.

San Francisco had a one-run lead in the ninth inning but blew the chance to win when a grounder got infield. After a stolen base and bad hit, the Rangers tied the game.

The Giants made a run first in the 10th inning, but the Rangers also scored. In the 11th inning, Texas did not allow San Francisco to score and then Brock Holt got a two-out RBI single to give the Rangers the 4-3 win. The loss for the Giants was particularly surprising because they have the best record in the MLB at 38-22, while the Rangers at 23-39 are in last place in the AL West.

San Francisco used Zack Littell as the starting pitcher – his first opener since 2018 – before putting lefty Sammy Long in. Long struck out seven in four innings in his major league debut for San Francisco.

He allowed a run on one hit, a double by Eli White, in the sixth inning, and walked one. Long threw 47 of 69 pitches for strikes. Long, who stopped playing baseball after the Tampa Bay Rays released him three years ago, said he felt great on the mound.

‘That was above and beyond right there on,’ Long said. ‘Just felt like I was in my element.’

Giants manager Gabe Kapler said he didn’t think they could have drawn it up any better for Long.

‘I thought he was poised, obviously used all of his weapons, able to execute all of them for strikes,’ Kapler said. ‘The line is incredibly impressive for the first time out at the major league level.’

The Giants beat the Rangers on Tuesday, 9-4. They still hold the best record in the NL. The Giants start a four-game series against the Washington Nationals on Thursday at Nationals Park. First pitch is at 4:05 p.m.