The Texas Rangers continue to find ways to stay in the American League West race.
Texas erased two separate deficits before breaking the game open with a five-run eighth inning to defeat the Los Angeles Angels 8-3 on Tuesday night at Globe Life Field. The victory improved the Rangers to 46-45, marking their 10th straight day at or above the .500 mark while pulling them within a half-game of first place after Seattle also fell Tuesday.
The Rangers’ offense came alive late after trailing 3-2 entering the bottom of the seventh. Justin Foscue ignited the comeback with a pinch-hit solo home run to even the score, setting the stage for Texas’ biggest late-game offensive outburst of the season. The Rangers erupted for five runs in the eighth inning, their highest-scoring frame after the seventh inning this year.
Texas also overcame another difficult opening inning. The Angels scored twice in the first against Jacob deGrom, continuing a trend that has plagued the Rangers throughout the season. Despite allowing first-inning runs for the 37th time this year, Texas rallied for just its third victory when trailing after seven innings.
DeGrom did not factor into the decision after working five innings. The veteran right-hander surrendered two earned runs on five hits while striking out seven and walking two. Both runs came in the opening frame before he settled in, limiting Los Angeles to just four baserunners over his final four innings of work.
Foscue delivered one of the game’s biggest swings when he launched his first career pinch-hit home run to lead off the seventh inning. The blast tied the game at 3-3 and shifted momentum back to the Rangers.
Alejandro Osuna provided the knockout punch an inning later. With two runners aboard, the rookie drove a three-run homer into right field for his first home run of the season, extending Texas’ lead to 8-3. Osuna finished 1-for-3 with three RBIs and a walk, matching a career high in RBIs.
Nicky Lopez helped keep Texas within striking distance early. His two-run single in the second inning erased the Angels’ early lead and continued his productive stretch at the plate. Lopez has now recorded hits in 10 of his last 11 starts and is batting .340 since joining the Rangers in late May.
Ezequiel Duran added the eventual game-winning RBI in the eighth with a sharp single through the left side that scored Josh Smith. It marked Duran’s sixth game-winning RBI of the season, tying him for the club lead, while giving him 45 RBIs on the year—just one shy of matching his career high.
The Rangers’ bullpen delivered after deGrom’s departure. Peyton Gray earned the victory with a scoreless eighth inning, extending his personal scoreless streak to nine consecutive appearances. Texas also turned two double plays behind its pitching staff.
Los Angeles wasted a quality outing from starter José Soriano, who allowed just two hits and two earned runs across six innings. Wade Meckler briefly gave the Angels a 3-2 lead with an RBI single in the seventh before the Rangers responded immediately.
The loss was the Angels’ seventh straight, while Texas continued to gain ground in a tightly contested AL West race heading into the remainder of the series.
