Joc Pederson homered in the sixth inning, and Brandon Nimmo made a game-saving throw from right field in the ninth for the Texas Rangers, who earned their third consecutive win in a 2-1 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night in Arlington, Texas.
Texas won despite mustering just three hits and a walk. It was the fewest hits for the Rangers in a victory this season. They were 0-14 entering Friday with four or fewer hits in a game.
Tyler Alexander (3-2) allowed a hit in two-thirds of an inning of relief as Texas posted its 19th comeback victory. Jacob Latz pitched the final two innings to earn his 22nd save of the season, but he needed a big assist from his right fielder.
Leody Taveras (2-for-4) led off the top of the ninth with an infield single. After striking out Coby Mayo, Latz gave up a double down the right-field line to Christian Franklin. Taveras was waved home but was cut down when Nimmo’s throw, cut off by second baseman Nicky Lopez, beat him home and Elias Diaz tagged him out.
The Orioles challenged the call, but it was upheld following review.
Latz then struck out Christian Encarnacion-Strand to end the game and strand Franklin at second, after he doubled for his first big-league hit.
The Orioles struck first in the game, taking advantage of a couple of two-out hits off Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi in the second inning, with Mayo’s single scoring Taveras after the latter doubled.
Meanwhile, Shane Baz (4-11) dominated the Rangers for the first five innings, limiting the hosts to just a leadoff single by Nimmo in the second inning.
That changed in the sixth as Diaz hit an infield single that Baz could not field. Lopez sacrificed Diaz to second. Pederson took the next pitch, a hanging cutter over the plate, 414 feet down the right-field line to put the Rangers ahead.
Baz tied his career high with eight innings pitched and tossed his first career complete game, albeit in a losing effort. The right-hander last won on June 12 and is 0-5 over his past nine starts.
Eovaldi went 5 1/3 innings, allowing four hits and two walks, while striking out a pair.
