58-58 – Joc blast elevates Rangers in opener against O’s

· Yahoo Sports

ARLINGTON, TEXAS - AUGUST 7: Joc Pederson #3 of the Texas Rangers reacts after flying out against the Baltimore Orioles during the third inning at Globe Life Field on August 7, 2026 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Texas Rangers scored two runs while the Baltimore Orioles scored one run.

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Back on the streaming service du jour, and sporting their finest cochineal red on a Friday night, the Rangers were seeking a return to .500 with Nathan Eovaldi on the mound against Shane Baz for Baltimore.

Lo and behold, we were treated to a good ol’ fashion pitchers’ duel with Eovaldi sequenced for a run allowed in the top second and Baz holding Texas to just one hit through the first five innings.

The Orioles’ run came with two outs when LSB-disliked former Ranger Leody Taveras smacked a double which was followed by an RBI single from Coby Mayo. From there Eovaldi was trying to match zeroes with Baz as the Baltimore righty was carving up the Rangers.

Texas got a leadoff single from Brandon Nimmo in the bottom of the second but from there Baz retired the next twelve batters. Eovaldi, meanwhile, wiggled out of a jam in the top of the fifth when the Orioles loaded the bases with two outs only for Eovaldi to freeze Pete Alonso with a splitter in the zone.

It wasn’t until an inning later that the Rangers would finally break through against Baz when Elias Diaz singled to lead off the bottom of the sixth. With runs at a premium, No. 9 hitter Nicky Lopez bunted Diaz over giving Joc Pederson an opportunity with a runner in scoring position.

Rather than tying the game with a mere base hit, Pederson had other ideas.

A two-run dong that danced around the foul pole put Texas up 2-1. It was dinger No. 21 on the year for the Rangers’ Rubenesque leadoff man.

Eovaldi exited after a walk in the top of the sixth with Tyler Alexander coming in to clean up that inning. Robby Ahlstrom pitched a scoreless seventh inning and with Texas enjoying a day off yesterday, Skip Schumaker elected to have closer Jacob Latz do one of his patented two inning saves.

Latz worked around a walk in the eighth and survived replay agreeing that Taveras was thrown out at home plate on the first hit of Christian Franklin’s big league career to help the Rangers secure the series opener as they climbed back to .500.

Player of the Game: The Rangers collected just three hits on the night but thanks to Pederson’s home run, Baz was saddled with an eight inning complete game loss.

Up Next: The Rangers and Orioles will continue this series with RHP Jacob deGrom next up for Texas opposite RHP Kyle Bradish for Baltimore.

The Saturday evening first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 6:15 pm CDT and will be televised nationally on FOX.

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