ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers continued their climb back into the American League playoff conversation Friday night, using timely pitching and one big swing from Joc Pederson to edge the Baltimore Orioles, 2-1, at Globe Life Field.
The victory gave Texas its third straight win, its first three-game winning streak since the All-Star break, and brought the club back to the .500 mark at 58-58. It also ended an 11-game skid in contests where the Rangers surrendered the game’s first run.
Baltimore grabbed an early advantage in the second inning when Coby Mayo lined a two-out RBI single through the middle to score the game’s first run. The Orioles threatened again in the fifth, loading the bases with two outs, but Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi froze Pete Alonso on a called third strike to keep the deficit at one.
Eovaldi was sharp despite not factoring into the decision. The veteran right-hander allowed one run on four hits over 5 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out two while throwing 86 pitches. He consistently worked ahead in counts, throwing first-pitch strikes to nearly three-quarters of the hitters he faced.
Texas’ offense struggled to solve Baltimore starter Shane Baz for much of the night. Baz retired 15 of the first 16 batters he faced and carried a one-hit shutout into the sixth inning.
That changed quickly.
Elias Díaz reached with an infield single to open the sixth, setting the stage for Pederson. The veteran slugger wasted no time, crushing the first pitch he saw deep down the right-field line for a two-run home run that traveled 414 feet and gave Texas its first lead of the night.
The blast was Pederson’s team-leading 21st home run of the season and continued his torrid stretch. Since late May, he has emerged as one of the American League’s hottest power hitters, accounting for 18 of his 21 homers during that span.
Texas made the lead stand behind its bullpen.
Jacob Latz closed the door with two scoreless innings to earn his 22nd save of the season. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out three, becoming the Major League leader with six saves of at least two innings this season.
Baz deserved a better outcome after delivering the finest outing of his young career. The Orioles right-hander tossed his first career complete game, allowing just three hits and two runs while striking out nine. His only mistake came on Pederson’s decisive home run, which also snapped a streak of more than 43 innings without allowing a homer.
Baltimore’s offense generated opportunities but couldn’t capitalize after Mayo’s RBI single. Rookie Christian Franklin collected his first Major League hit with a ninth-inning double, but the Orioles couldn’t bring home the tying run.
The Rangers improved to 21-12 in one-run games this season, the best winning percentage in the American League in such contests. Texas has now won 14 of its last 16 games decided by a single run.
Baltimore fell to 10-18 in one-run games, the league’s worst mark, and opened its 10-day road trip with a loss. The Orioles will try to even the three-game series on Saturday.
