Langford lifts Rangers past Pirates
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Wyatt Langford's single scored pinch-runner Ezequiel Duran with two out in the ninth inning, giving the Texas Rangers a 1-0 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
Jonah Heim and Adolis García singled off David Bednar (3-6) to open Texas' half of the ninth. Duran, running for Heim, advanced to third on a flyout to deep right field by Nathaniel Lowe.
Bednar struck out Josh Jung on a 3-2 fastball after García stole second base. Langford then laced an RBI single to center field.
The Rangers had been 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position before Langford's single.
The winning run ended a streak of 22 scoreless innings in the series for the Rangers, who claimed two of three games against the Pirates and ended a string of seven consecutive lost series.
Kirby Yates (5-2) pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Rangers, who have won three of their last four games after being swept in a three-game series by the Minnesota Twins.
Rangers starter Andrew Heaney worked five scoreless innings, allowing five hits and one walk while striking out eight.
Pittsburgh's Domingo Germán pitched six scoreless innings, giving up three singles and four walks in his first major league start this year.
The Pirates went 0 for 6 with runners in scoring position, left 10 runners on and struck out 16 times. They've lost three of their last four games.
RED SOX 4, ASTROS 1
HOUSTON (AP) — Rookie Ceddanne Rafaela doubled twice with two RBIs and fellow rookie David Hamilton added a solo homer in the ninth inning to lead the Red Sox to a win over the Astros.
Rafaela's first double off Justin Verlander (3-3) gave Boston a 2-1 lead in the second inning. He drove in another run with a double with two outs in the seventh.
Hamilton's home run to right field off Seth Martinez made it 4-1 with two outs in the ninth.
Alex Bregman hit his first career leadoff home run in his return to the lineup after missing five games with a swollen right elbow.
But the Astros struggled at the plate the rest of the day, going 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position after finishing 0 for 8 Tuesday.
Bregman was batting first for just the third time this season with Jose Altuve getting a rare day off.
Verlander allowed four hits and two runs with six strikeouts in five innings in his first start since June 9.
Red Sox starter Cooper Criswell permitted four hits and a run in 4 2/3 innings.
Josh Winckowski (4-1) pitched a scoreless sixth for the win and Chris Martin struck out one in the ninth for his first save.
METS 4, ORIOLES 3
NEW YORK (AP) — Pinch-hitter Jesse Winker led off the ninth inning with his first home run for the Mets, giving them another rousing victory over the Orioles.
Mets starter Sean Manaea retired his first 17 batters and Mark Vientos put New York ahead 3-2 with a solo homer in the seventh.
Francisco Lindor also went deep and J.D. Martinez drove in a run with a grounder to help the Mets take two of three in the series.
Edwin Díaz (5-1) struck out two in a perfect inning for his second win of the series.
Seranthony Domínguez (3-4) gave up both game-ending longballs.
Adley Rutschman's sacrifice fly tied it for the Orioles in the eighth.