ARLINGTON -- This one -- lasting three hours and 42 minutes -- almost defies description. The Rangers trailed by seven runs going into the ninth, and came within one hit of tying the score.

The Rangers weren’t subdued until Orioles closer Mychal Givens struck out Elvis Andrus with the potential tying run at second base, vanquishing the hopes of an incredible comeback. In the end the Rangers couldn’t overcome their pitching woes, especially from starter Drew Smyly, and went down, 12-11, on Tuesday night at Globe Life Park.

• Box score

“I had the feeling, people were getting on base,” outfielder Shin-Soo Choo said. “I had confidence, guys in the dugout had confidence. We tried the best we could. We’ll put the pressure on the Orioles in the next two games.”

The comeback was the first thing manager Chris Woodward wanted to talk about after the game.

“We have been doing that all year,” Woodward said. “We don’t quit, we fight, [we have] quality at-bats late. We were one hit away from tying the game or winning the game. Can’t say enough about that.”

But there was much to say about Smyly, who is still trying to find himself after missing two complete seasons while recovering from Tommy John surgery.

“Drew struggled with his command,” Woodward said. “Left too many balls in the middle of the plate, didn’t have his command and didn’t get ahead of many hitters. When he did attack hitters, it seemed like they were good pitches to hit. They didn’t miss too many. It’s something he’ll have to get better at next time.”

Smyly trailed, 4-0, after facing his first five hitters, giving up a three-run home run to Dwight Smith Jr. and a back-to-back shot by Pedro Severino. That was the first of three for Severino on the night.

Smyly allowed seven runs in five innings in his most recent outing, against the Mariners, but that was in relief after Jose Leclerc opened the game. Smyly was 1-0 with a 3.86 ERA in his last three starts, showing signs that he was pulling it together after the two-year layoff. But Tuesday’s outing left him 1-4 with a 7.93 ERA after eight starts and two relief appearances.

Rangers starters entered the night having gone 8-3 with a 2.80 ERA in their last 18 games. The Rangers were 13-5 in that stretch before Smyly ran into trouble on Tuesday. His next start is scheduled for Sunday, against the Athletics, although the Rangers may consider using an opener for that one.

The bigger question is how long they can wait to see if Smyly can get back to being a reliable starter on a team that is two games over .500 and has been winning with good starting pitching lately.

“I don’t know, that’s something we’ll discuss internally,” Woodward said. “He shows glimpses of being the guy that he was in the past. It takes guys time to bounce back. I don’t know if he is that guy who takes longer to bounce back. The stuff seems to play up when he executes. When he doesn’t execute, it gets hit.”

Smyly was relieved by David Carpenter, who was called up on Friday from Nashville and made his first Major League appearance since July 5, 2015, while pitching for the Nationals.

Milestone for Choo

Choo led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run, giving him 200 for his career. That ranks him 35th among active players.

“I have never been a home run hitter,” Choo said. “I just enjoy playing the game. I have never hit 30 home runs in a season. I have played this game a long time."

Choo now has three first-inning leadoff home runs this season and 30 for his career. Nineteen of those have come with the Rangers, second most in club history behind 29 from Ian Kinsler.

Rangers put Dowdy on IL

The Rangers have placed right-hander Kyle Dowdy on the 10-day injured list with a right elbow impingement. To replace him, the Rangers recalled left-handed reliever Brett Martin from Nashville.

Martin pitched three innings in Tuesday's loss, giving up one run on two hits and striking out three.

Dowdy last pitched on May 26, against the Angels. He threw in the bullpen after Sunday’s game against the Royals just to get some work in and felt the elbow flare up afterward.

Dowdy, a Rule 5 Draft pick taken by the Mets from the Indians at the Winter Meetings, is 2-1 with a 7.25 ERA and 1.97 WHIP in 13 games. The Rangers picked him up on waivers at the end of Spring Training.

“He hasn’t pitched in a while, but this may not be a bad thing,” Woodward said. “It could be a good thing if we can get him some games at Double-A or Triple-A. We’re still trying to figure out how long he will be out and when he’ll start throwing again.”

Dowdy has to stay with the Rangers all season or be offered back to the Indians. He must spend at least 90 of those days on the active roster.