ARLINGTON, Texas (D210SPORTS) — The Texas Rangers found themselves in an early nightmare Friday night, trailing by five runs before many fans had settled into their seats. By the end of the evening, they were celebrating one of their most dramatic victories of the season.
Texas erased a 5-0 first-inning deficit and outslugged the San Diego Padres 9-7 at Globe Life Field, completing its largest comeback win of 2026 and snapping a three-game skid in series openers.
The game exploded immediately, producing an eye-popping 11 runs in the opening inning. San Diego struck first behind Ty France’s grand slam and carried a 5-0 lead into the bottom half of the frame. The Rangers responded with six runs of their own, turning the game on its head before the first inning had even ended.
It marked the first time this season that a Major League Baseball team won after trailing by at least five runs following the top of the first inning.
“We just kept fighting,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said afterward. “Nobody panicked. The offense answered right away, and that changed the momentum.”
Jacob deGrom celebrated his 38th birthday in unusual fashion. The Rangers ace surrendered six earned runs over six innings, including the five-run first, but still earned the victory thanks to the explosive support from his offense.
France did much of the damage against deGrom, launching a first-inning grand slam before adding a solo homer in the fourth. He finished with two home runs, a double and a career-high 10 total bases.
Despite the rough start, deGrom settled in after the opening inning. From the second through sixth frames, he largely controlled San Diego’s lineup and worked through a season-high 106 pitches.
The Rangers offense provided contributions throughout the lineup.
Wyatt Langford continued his recent surge at the plate, collecting three hits and finishing a triple short of the cycle. His eighth-inning solo homer added valuable insurance and capped another strong performance during a red-hot stretch that has seen his batting average climb significantly over the past week.
Brandon Nimmo also fueled the attack, recording two doubles and an RBI. The veteran outfielder has been one of Texas’ most consistent hitters recently, producing multiple-hit games in six of his last 10 contests.
Alejandro Osuna delivered one of the night’s biggest swings when he ripped a two-run double down the right-field line during the Rangers’ six-run first inning. The rookie finished with two hits and two RBIs.
Ezequiel Duran reached base four times, including a career-high three walks, helping keep pressure on Padres pitching throughout the night.
San Diego’s Randy Vásquez struggled to hold the early advantage. After receiving a five-run cushion before taking the mound in the bottom of the first, the right-hander was tagged for seven runs, six earned, over 3 1/3 innings. A missed play at first base helped open the door for Texas’ immediate response.
The Padres received additional offense from Gavin Sheets, who contributed an RBI single and a solo homer, but could not overcome the Rangers’ relentless comeback.
Texas improved its momentum heading into the remainder of the weekend series, while San Diego dropped its third consecutive series opener during its current road trip.
For one chaotic night in Arlington, a game that appeared headed toward an early Padres rout became a showcase of resilience from a Rangers club unwilling to let a disastrous first inning define the outcome.
