The Texas Rangers came within striking distance of baseball history on Friday night, but not the kind any team wants to be part of. In a game that felt like a nightmare replay of offensive struggles, the Rangers managed just one hit and fell 2-0 to the Houston Astros in the opener of the 2026 Silver Boot series.

After a thrilling ninth-inning comeback win on Wednesday, fans hoped the momentum would carry over. Instead, the Rangers' lineup—usually a feared group—looked lost at the plate. For much of the night, it seemed like the Astros' pitcher, Spencer Arrighetti (or as some might joke, "Spencer Spaghetti"), was on the verge of a no-hitter. He carried a zero-hit bid into the eighth inning before Justin Foscue broke through with a one-out single, saving Texas from the ultimate embarrassment. But the rally was short-lived: Foscue was promptly picked off first base, and the Rangers never threatened again.

The real story, however, was the pitching duel. Jack Leiter turned in one of his best outings of the season, but it was a classic case of hard-luck loss. The young right-hander allowed just one run over seven innings—a solo home run by Isaac Paredes that barely cleared the short porch in left field at Daikin Park (formerly Minute Maid Park). Leiter struck out six, walked three, and surrendered only three hits. One mistake was all it took to cost him the game.

In the eighth, reliever Cole Winn labored through the frame, allowing Houston to tack on an insurance run, and the Rangers' offense couldn't muster a response.

Up next, Texas will look to bounce back on Saturday. The Rangers send ace Jacob deGrom to the mound, while Houston counters with right-hander Kai-Wei Teng. First pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. CDT from Daikin Park, and the game will air on the Rangers Sports Network. For a team that prides itself on offensive firepower, getting more than one hit will be the top priority.