Leody Taveras played a pivotal role in securing a 9-7 victory for the Texas Rangers over the Detroit Tigers on Thursday. Taveras scored the decisive run in the eighth inning on a fielder’s choice and later contributed an RBI single in the ninth. His double with one out in the eighth set the stage for the go-ahead run, which came off Corey Seager’s groundout, breaking a 7-7 tie. 

Taveras then sealed the win with his ninth-inning hit. Pitcher Jose Leclerc earned the win in relief for Texas, while Kirby Yates secured his second save with a flawless ninth inning. On the other side, Shelby Miller suffered the loss for the Tigers, marking his second consecutive defeat.

The game also marked the major league debut of Texas starter Jack Leiter, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft. Leiter, son of former MLB pitcher Al Leiter, showed promise early in the game, recording his first strikeout against leadoff hitter Riley Greene. However, despite taking an early lead, Leiter faced challenges as the Tigers rallied back in the second inning to tie the game. Although the Rangers managed to regain the lead, Leiter’s outing ended in the bottom of the fourth inning after allowing seven earned runs on eight hits. Kerry Carpenter’s triple and Spencer Torkelson’s double contributed to the Tigers’ offensive surge.

To accommodate Leiter’s debut, the Rangers optioned pitcher Grant Anderson to Round Rock. Overall, the game showcased Taveras’s clutch performance and Leiter’s promising start, underscoring the Rangers’ resilience in securing the win.