The Texas Rangers dropped a 6-4 decision to the Minnesota Twins at Target Field on Sunday, September 27, 2026, ending the day on the wrong side of a two-run margin. Dean Kremer was the story, spinning seven innings of near-flawless baseball against a Texas lineup that could never generate enough offense to keep pace. Three Rangers went deep — Corey Seager, Elias Díaz, and Danny Jansen each hit home runs — but it wasn't enough to overcome a bullpen that unraveled at critical moments.

Dean Kremer Shuts Down Texas Offense Over Seven Innings

Kremer was dominant. The right-hander went seven full innings, allowing just three hits, one earned run, and issued zero walks while striking out four. That's a 1.29 ERA on the day against a Rangers lineup that simply had no answer for him. He threw efficiently, he was in command, and he earned the win. There's no sugarcoating it — Texas got outpitched in a significant way.

The Twins added further damage late. Josh Bell provided the biggest blow of the night, going 1-for-2 with a home run and three RBI. Royce Lewis added a 2-for-4 line with a solo shot, and Walker Jenkins went 2-for-4 as Minnesota's offense proved productive across multiple contributors. Ryan Jeffers chipped in with two hits and an RBI as well, giving the Twins four contributors across the lineup.

Rangers Hit Three Home Runs But Can't Generate Enough Offense

Texas did show some pop. Seager went 1-for-4 with a home run and two RBI — his bat was productive on the night. Díaz connected in just one at-bat, going 1-for-1 with a homer and an RBI. Jansen added another long ball, going 1-for-3 with an RBI. Three home runs should be enough to compete in most games. Against Kremer on Sunday, it wasn't close.

Outside of those three performances, the Rangers' offensive production was limited. The team managed to score four runs on the strength of those three solo and multi-run shots, but sustained rallies never materialized against Kremer and the Minnesota bullpen.

Texas Bullpen Collapses After Early Starting Pitching Struggles

The Rangers' pitching situation was messy from the jump. MacKenzie Gore lasted just 2.1 innings, giving up one earned run on one hit with a walk and no strikeouts — a start that put the bullpen in a tough spot early. Chase Silseth entered and immediately made things worse, allowing two earned runs in just a third of an inning and taking the loss.

Robert Garcia provided a clean third of an inning of relief. Tyler Alexander worked one inning but surrendered a run on two hits and a walk. Jakob Junis was wild — three walks in a third of an inning, with one earned run. Jordan Montgomery was the best arm out of the Texas bullpen, throwing 2.2 scoreless innings with three strikeouts on two hits. Cody Bradford closed things out but gave up an earned run on three hits in the final frame.

No single reliever was catastrophic on his own, but the collective inability to string together clean innings handed Minnesota the breathing room it needed to protect Kremer's early lead.

Turning Point: Josh Bell's Three-RBI Home Run

Bell's home run was the decisive blow. The first baseman went deep with two runners on, giving Minnesota a cushion the Rangers simply never recovered from. With Kremer rolling through Texas hitters, that multi-run shot effectively ended any realistic comeback conversation.

What's Next for the Rangers

  • Texas wraps up the final days of the 2026 regular season with Sunday's loss now on the books.
  • Starting pitching depth and bullpen reliability remain areas that will need attention going forward.
  • Seager, Díaz, and Jansen's home runs demonstrate the Rangers still have offensive firepower — getting more consistent production around those performances will be the challenge.
  • Minnesota's Dean Kremer served as a reminder that when a starter commands the zone and works efficiently, Texas can be neutralized despite having legitimate power hitters in the order.