Josh Jung’s two-out, three-run home run in the bottom of the 10th inning provided the winning runs as the Texas Rangers rallied for an 8-5 walk-off victory over the slumping New York Yankees on Monday in the opener of a three-game series in Arlington, Texas.
After New York did not score in the top of the 10th, Yankees reliever Jake Bird (4-2) retired the first two batters he faced before Jung rocketed his homer into the left field stands. Danny Coulombe (2-0) worked through a two-out walk in the 10th to earn the win.
The Rangers’ Joc Pederson ripped a one-out pinch-hit solo homer in the ninth inning off Devin Williams that tied the game at 5-5 and sent it to extra innings.
Paul Goldschmidt had three hits and scored three runs to lead the Yankees’ attack. New York has dropped four straight games.
Goldschmidt opened the game with a solo homer to left field off Rangers starter Patrick Corbin.
New York added to its lead with a pair of runs in the second. Amed Rosario’s RBI single drove in Austin Wells, who had singled to lead off the frame and moved to third on a double by Goldschmidt. Goldschmidt then trotted home on a single by Cody Bellinger.
The Rangers responded in the bottom of the frame. Wyatt Langford started the rally with a one-out double and Jung followed with a walk. Josh Smith drove in Langford with a single before Jonah Heim’s infield single loaded the bases. Ezequiel Duran plated Jung and Smith with a single to left field that tied the game. Heim then scored on an errant pickoff throw to second base by Yankees starter Max Fried that gave Texas a 4-3 lead.
Giancarlo Stanton put the Yankees back on top in the fourth on a line drive home run over the center field fence that allowed Goldschmidt, who had reached on a single, to score ahead of him.
Jon Gray took over for Corbin in the fourth and pitched five innings while throwing 66 pitches — both were season highs.
New York ace Fried allowed four runs and scattered eight hits while walking three and striking out seven in five innings. He was followed to the mound by Luke Weaver, Camilo Doval and David Bednar, all of whom pitched a scoreless inning.
