Texas Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford scored the game-tying run in the ninth inning and drove in the walk-off run in the 10th to secure a victory over the Chicago White Sox.
In a crucial matchup, the Texas Rangers, fighting hard for victories, had to stage a comeback in both the ninth and 10th innings to secure a 4-3 win over the Chicago White Sox at Globe Life Field on Monday night.
Rookie Wyatt Langford delivered a game-changing performance, driving in the decisive walk-off run with a two-out, bases-loaded single that hit the base of the left-field wall in the 10th inning.
Langford’s dramatic hit, which reached a speed of 109.2 mph, came off a 2-2 sweeper from White Sox right-hander Steven Wilson.
The White Sox had intentionally walked Corey Seager and Josh Smith to set up Langford’s at-bat.
With Travis Jankowski pinch-running for Justin Foscue as the ghost runner at second, he advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt by Leody Taveras. Marcus Semien struck out on a foul tip before Seager and Smith were walked, setting the stage for Langford’s crucial hit.
In the ninth inning, Langford hit a one-out double, stole third base, and scored on Jonah Heim’s game-tying two-out single up the middle.
The White Sox, who hold the worst record in MLB and are on an eight-game losing streak, have a 27-75 record. This puts them in a rare position, being only the 12th team to lose 75 games in the first 102 games of a season, a feat not seen since the 1979 Oakland Athletics.
Despite their struggles, Chicago was ahead 3-2 after Paul DeJong hit a remarkable solo homer off Rangers’ All-Star closer Kirby Yates in the top of the ninth.
Michael Lorenzen managed to escape trouble throughout the first five innings, exiting with the game tied 2-2.
Tommy Pham’s homer in the first inning put Chicago ahead 1-0, but Semien’s solo shot in the third evened the score. The White Sox regained a 2-1 lead with a run in the fourth, only for Taveras to tie it again with a solo homer in the fifth.
The game remained tied until the ninth inning.
Lorenzen allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out eight over five innings. In relief, Jose Leclerc pitched two scoreless innings, striking out four.