Jacob deGrom allowed only one run in five-plus innings to put the Texas Rangers in position for a win, but the bullpen surrendered a two-run lead in the seventh inning of a 6-4 loss.

ARLINGTON — Never one to make excuses and never satisfied with the job he’s done, Jacob deGrom still pitched well enough Sunday afternoon to have the Texas Rangers in front at the end of his five-plus innings.

He sure wishes it could have been six or seven innings, but he was foiled by some long Seattle at-bats and some bad luck on at least four hits. No, his left glute strain isn’t fully healthy, but he said he’s healthy enough to pitch.

Ultimately, his biggest problem with the outing is that the Rangers didn’t win. He was gone when the damage was done against the Rangers’ soft underbelly, as the Mariners struck for four runs in the seventh inning against the bullpen en route to a 6-4 win.

The Rangers remained in first place in the American League West by a 1 1/2 games over the Mariners ahead of the series finale Monday afternoon. A win will go a long way toward convincing the front office to make additions ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline.

The list starts with bullpen help, which the Rangers have needed for some time.

“I think in the bullpen we have different guys in different lanes that have done really good, and then we’ve had some you know hiccups along the way, just like everybody else,” managre Skip Schumaker said. “But today, just a home run cost us.”

Cole Winn couldn’t strand the two Mariners runners he inherited in the seventh from Tyler Alexander, allowing a three-run home run to Dominic Canzone and a solo shot Randy Arozarena in a four-run burst that flipped the score from 3-1 Rangers to 5-3 Mariners.

Ezequiel Duran homered in the eighth to draw the Rangers withing a run, but Canzone delivered an RBI double in the ninth against Payton Grey. That’s not how the Rangers drew things up in spring training.

Winn might be the lone reliever on the active roster pitching in the role he had at the start of the season, primarily because of injuries. Alexander has become a high-leverage arm after joining the team to be a swing man, and he’s been good. Grey, Ben Peoples, Marco Gonzalez and Robby Ahlstrom, who worked a sharp sixth inning behind deGrom, started their seasons in the minors.

Schumaker said that Winn was the choice Sunday over fellow right-hander Jakob Junis, who was being saved for the eighth inning. Junis and All-Star closer Jacob Latz have teamed multiple times this season on the eighth and ninth innings.

Winn entered after lefty hitters Colt Emerson and Cole Young trumped the matchup advantage the Rangers felt the had with the left-handed Alexander. Winn quickly got Julio Rodriguez to pop to shallow center, but he fell behind 2-0 to Canzone and then yanked a cutter over the inner part of the plate.

Canzone didn’t miss it. Arozarena followed with a shot into the Rangers’ bullpen for a 5-3 lead.

The front office needs to determine if the Rangers are worth the deadline investment. If president of baseball operations Chris Young decides they are, he and his staff will mull over dozens of relievers who could potentially be available.

A right-handed power arm would be the best play, especially one who is on an expiring contract who won’t cost much in prospect capital. A second reliever is needed but might take a back seat to a catcher to pair with Elias Diaz.

A bullpen’s best friend is a rotation that goes deeper into games, as Nathan Eovaldi did Saturday with his seven-inning stint. It appeared early on that deGrom would get through at least six innings, but the third inning was extended by a two-out flyball that hit off Evan Carter’s glove for a triple and a blooper that fell in front of left fielder Wyatt Langford.

Those two hits provided the Mariners with their lone run against deGrom, who allowed seven hits in five innings plus two batters.

“Their lineup did a good job battling me today. I made some good pitches that were hit,” deGrom said. “We really wanted to win that game, but we weren’t able to today.”

The Rangers could use the starters returning from the IL as relievers, though they also need to preserve some rotation depth. Jordan Montgomery would make his 2026 debut this week, which would likely push Cal Quantrill back to the bullpen.

Cody Bradford could be used as a reliever, but the Rangers are stretching him out to start. Jack Leiter relieved as a rookie, but he could give the rotation a boost if he can find his 2025 second-half form.

The best and most immediate solution for the bullpen is the trade deadline. A win Monday, after a disppointing bullpen-induced loss Sunday, could determine if the Rangers’ front office will deal for the needed help.

_{Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com}