The Rangers won their first game of the season this Thursday and it seemed as if the previous one had never ended, as they worked as usual.
ARLINGTON, Texas – The champion is back, like he never left.
The Rangers They won their first game of the season this Thursday and it seemed as if the previous one had never ended, as they worked as usual.
They had to go back to the Chicago Cubs three times until leaving them lying on the field in the tenth inning 4-3, to give the illusion to the majority of the 42,130 fans who paid for a ticket that this was just the beginning of another memorable season.
The Rangers They had to battle bullpen inconsistency, as they did all of last year. Their starting pitcher, Nathan Eovaldi, pitched six innings of four-hit ball and allowed two runs to leave without a decision. Adolis Garcia, just like in the previous postseason, hit the home run when they needed it most, in the sixth inning to tie the game 2-2 at that time.
Corey Seager, the Most valuable Player of the World Series and of the Rangers The previous two seasons, he showed that he didn’t even need spring games to respond with the wood and the glove in compromised situations. The same thing happened with last season’s rookie sensation, third baseman Josh Jung, who surprised as a starter, even though he also hardly played in the Cactus League in the preseason. And he also responded with offense and above all defense.
Rookie Wyatt Langford, who is the fastest player to reach the Major Leagues after being drafted, continued his love affair with producing runs and bats, as he did throughout the preseason, in which he was the leading producer. of the Major Leagues.
Tonight he produced his first run in the Majors, had his first hit and received his first walk, and of course he struck out for the first time, being placed fifth in the batting order as a designated hitter.
Travis Janikowski came off the bench to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth inning with his first home run of the year.
And All-Star catcher Jonah Heim redeemed himself with the winning RBI hit in the 10th, just one inning after he had allowed the Cubs’ third run, which seemed like a game-winner.
Heim claimed a foul swing that in his opinion was not called by home plate umpire Chaid Fairchild, instead of following the play, in which Michael Bush took advantage to score for Chicago.
But that was forgotten when Heim hit his single to center with which Jung floored the winning run for the reigning champions. Yes, the Rangers came back again as was the hallmark of the previous season to win a season opening game for the fifth time in their history, leaving their rival prone.
Before the game, the Rangers reminded the world of the championship they won by displaying the trophy and taking down the first major league championship pennant in their history.
This Friday, the series rests, before resuming on Saturday, when the Texans will receive their championship rings.
The Cubs will send their star Kyle Hendricks to the mound. The Rangers manager left pending the announcement of his starting pitcher.
