Wyatt Langford delivered a two-out RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning to lift the Texas Rangers to a 1-0 victory against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday afternoon in the rubber match of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas. Jonah Heim began the ninth with an infield single against Pittsburgh closer David Bednar (3-6), and Ezequiel Duran took over on first as a pinch runner. Adolis Garcia then lined a single to left to put runners on first and second, and Nathaniel Lowe lined out to deep right, moving Duran to third with one out. Following a strikeout, Langford singled home Duran for the winning run. Rangers starter Andrew Heaney logged five shutout innings, allowing five hits while striking out eight and walking one. Jose Leclerc, Andrew Chafin, David Robertson and Kirby Yates (5-2) each followed with one inning of relief. Texas hadn't scored in 23 innings before breaking through in the ninth on Wednesday. Bryan Reynolds and Yasmani Grandal had two hits apiece for the Pirates. Pittsburgh right-hander Domingo German made his first start since July 25, 2023, when he was a member of the New York Yankees. On Wednesday, he went six shutout innings and allowed just three hits while striking out four and walking four. The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the second on a fielding error by third baseman Josh Jung, a single by Oneil Cruz and a walk, but Heaney got Grandal to hit into an inning-ending double play. Reynolds hit a ground-rule double to right-center with two outs in the third, but Heaney fanned Joey Bart to close the frame. Pittsburgh loaded the bases again while facing Heaney in the fifth, but the left-hander struck out Connor Joe to end the threat. The Pirates also failed to take advantage of leadoff singles in the seventh and eighth innings. German brought a two-hit shutout into the fifth but walked Langford and Travis Jankowski to start the inning. Leody Taveras failed to bunt the runners over before striking out, and Marcus Semien then bounced into an inning-ending double play. --Field Level Media
Aug 21, 2024; Arlington, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (2) puts out Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Jared Triolo (19) as he turns a double play during the second inning at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports