ARLINGTON, Texas — The Orioles' 4-3 loss to the Texas Rangers on Monday night seemed to sting a little more than most defeats, not just because of all the obstacles their one-day trip to Texas to play a makeup game included, but because they returned home knowing they left several scoring opportunities on the field.

They had 15 hits in Monday's makeup of April 17th's rainout at Globe Life Park, but the Orioles stranded 12 baserunners. They jumped on Rangers left-hander Derek Holland early, scoring three runs off him in the second inning, but couldn't muster anything after that.

“It's a tough loss,” said catcher Matt Wieters, who struck out with one out in the ninth inning and the tying run on third base. “We definitely had our chances to extend our lead and also come back there at the end. It's a team loss today and we'll take it like that and we'll move on to tomorrow.”

Already leading 3-0, the Orioles loaded the bases with no outs, but failed to score as shortstop J.J. Hardy struck out and left fielder Nolan Reimold hit into an inning-ending double play.

“We still had chances after that,” Wieters said. “You can't put your finger on one play or one pitch or one at-bat. We had chances in the ninth inning. We had chances there with first and third and like I said, it's on all of us today and we have to get better and come out tomorrow and do better.”

Playing down a man with third baseman Manny Machado serving the second game of his four-game suspension, the Orioles brought just 20 players to the Metroplex, leaving the rest of the starting rotation and injured players back in Baltimore.

It was unlike any other travel the Orioles have had. The most comparable instance was their 2012 AL Wild Card win over the Rangers here at Globe Life Park, although even that game had days off on either side.

But every Orioles starter had at least one hit, and the team's two-through-seven batters had two hits apiece.

“Travel-wise, probably not ideal, but it's the reality of it,” said Mark Trumbo, who had two hits, of the uniqueness of the one-game series. “Come in here and we're going to go back home, it makes for an interesting time. But there's no excuses. I think everyone felt fine today. It just didn't quite go our way.”

The Orioles put the tying run at third with one out in the ninth inning against Rangers closer Sam Dyson when Chris Davis singled and moved to third on Trumbo's single.

But Wieters struck out on three pitches, swinging through a changeup, and Jonathan Schoop grounded into a game-ending fielder's-choice.

Gausman remains winless: Right-hander Kevin Gausman hasn't pitched with a lead often, but he had one, 3-0, in the second inning and could not hold it.

Gausman (0-5) remained winless through 12 starts. Gausman, who was coming off his shortest start of the season in his previous outing, lasted one batter into the sixth inning, allowing four runs on 10 baserunners (nine hits and a walk).

“That's the most frustrating thing,” Gausman said. “I feel like I haven't really pitched with a lead very often this year and to get that early in the game, you have to be able to shut the door right there. This is one game, mano-a-mano, and for us to go up early against a good starting pitcher ... I've got to be able to shut the door and not give it right back like I did.”

Gausman fell behind in a 36-pitch fourth inning during which the Rangers scored three runs.

He had allowed just three hits over his first three innings — the only run against him coming on Ian Desmond's homer to center field — but got himself into trouble after he loaded the bases with one out in the fourth.

No. 9 hitter Bobby Wilson worked a 10-pitch at-bat that ended with a sacrifice fly to center field, cutting the Orioles' lead to one run. Three pitches later, Shin-Soo Choo hit a 2-1 hanging curveball off the right-field wall for a two-run single that gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead.

eencina@baltsun.com

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