The issue seems to coincide either with him slipping on a mound in Boston, which led to a stay on the disabled list with a stiff back, or being slammed to the ground by Seattle's Richie Sexson in his first start back.

Going back to the Boston game, Gabbard has averaged a walk an inning for his 23 innings. A dozen of the walks have come in the last two starts.

"He's been struggling since Boston with his fastball location," pitching coach Mark Connor said. "That's about it. We're working at it. There were times when I thought he was getting it right. I keep asking him (if he's hurt) and he tells me his fine. We've just got to stay after it."

There were moments when it did look like Gabbard would get things turned around. But they were fleeting. After allowing a run in the first inning and issuing his first walk with two outs, he got Jason Bartlett to ground out. He followed up walks in both the second and third with double plays. He pitched a 1-2-3 fourth, his first perfect inning in a three-start stretch.

In the fifth, with the Rangers clinging to a one-run lead, he allowed a single to backup catcher Shawn Riggans, then walked No. 9 hitter Ben Zobrist and the inning unraveled. By the time Washington pulled Gabbard, he'd allowed the go-ahead run to score on a bases-loaded walk. Right-hander Frank Francisco also allowed a bases-loaded walk in the fifth.

RAYS 5, RANGERS 3: The Rangers are still struggling to get over the .500 hump. The Rangers led the game going to the fifth, but left-hander Kason Gabbard and right-hander Frank Francisco walked five batters in the inning, including walking in two runs. The loss also ended the Rangers' streak of winning or splitting series at nine. They last lost a series when they were swept at Detroit April 22-24.