ARLINGTON — One yr in the past, the Rangers set the tone for a championship season by not solely successful on Opening Day, but in addition finishing a season-opening three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies.
The Rangers try to get this season began in the identical method this season, beginning the evening by unfurling their first World Championship banner simply earlier than enjoying towards the Chicago Cubs.
The Rangers beginning rotation was lacking some high-profile, high-dollar names within the first half of this season. Max Scherzer, Tyler Mahle and Jacob deGrom are rehabbing accidents.
Jonah Heim hit a game-ending RBI single with two outs within the tenth inning and Adolis García and Travis Jankowski homered for the Rangers.
Drew Smyly, the Cubs’ seventh pitcher, walked two to load the bases earlier than Heim lined a pointy hit into right-center discipline and was mobbed by his teammates.
Jankowski led off the ninth with a tying pinch-hit homer after Chicago went forward on a disputed play with two outs within the high half of the inning involving All-Star catcher Heim.
Michael Busch scored from second base on what Heim thought was a foul tip — and gave the impression to be on slow-motion replays, although that type of play is not topic to video evaluate. José Leclerc, who had walked Busch, was charged with a wild pitch.
David Robertson, the veteran reliever Texas signed in free company, labored the tenth for the win.
Cubs left-hander Justin Steele struck out six in his first profession opening-day begin earlier than exiting with left hamstring tightness with two outs within the fifth inning. The primary-time All-Star final yr, when he was 15-6 with a 3.06 ERA, received harm whereas fielding a sacrifice bunt.
Nathan Eovaldi, the winner in World Sequence Sport 5 at Arizona final Nov. 1 that clinched Texas’ first championship, allowed two runs over six innings within the opener.
Texas had rookies Wyatt Langford and Evan Carter within the lineup with all six of its All-Stars from final season, together with Eovaldi. Carter made his debut on the finish of final season, whereas Langford was the designated hitter and the primary Rangers place participant to make his MLB debut by beginning on opening day since former shortstop Elvis Andrus in 2009.
Langford, the fourth general choose in final summer time’s beginner draft, hit a tying sacrifice fly within the fourth. His first large league hit was an infield single proper after Garcia homered within the sixth.
A sellout crowd of 42,130 was the biggest ever for a regular-season recreation at Globe Life Discipline, which opened in 2020. The one three bigger crowds for video games got here throughout the playoffs final October.