The Morning Horsehide Herald — the Tenth of July, Two Thousand and Twenty-Six

The Game of the Day

RANGERS SNATCH VICTORY FROM THE JAWS OF RUIN, SEVEN TO SIX, AS LANGFORD STRIKES IN THE NINTH

In Which the Halos Storm to the Front on a Five-Run Seventh, and Yet the Texans, Undaunted, Wring the Final Run from the Very Last At-Bat

Beneath the closed roof at Arlington there transpired a contest of such whipsawing fortune that the faithful scarce knew which banner to wave, and when the dust had settled it was the men of Texas who stood victorious by the slenderest of margins, seven to six. The home nine had leapt to the fore early and often — Brandon Nimmo's ninth round-tripper in the first, Ezequiel Duran's two-run blast and Justin Foscue's solo shot building a six-to-one fortress by the sixth — and it seemed the afternoon a settled affair.

But the Angels, those stubborn pilgrims from the coast, would not go gentle. In the seventh they visited a five-run cannonade upon the Texas bullpen, Nolan Schanuel (four hits on the day) driving home a pair and Jo Adell singling home the run that knotted the count at six apiece. The immortal Mike Trout crossed the plate in the rally, and of a sudden the fortress lay in rubble.

So to the last of the ninth it came, the score deadlocked, and there stood Wyatt Langford, who with a line drive to left field sent Alejandro Osuna scampering home with the winning tally — a walk-off stroke that spared Texas the ignominy of so grand a collapse. Winn (now four-and-two) claimed the verdict in a single batter's work upon the mound; the luckless Kirby Yates (nil-and-four) wore the defeat. Nathan Eovaldi had struck out ten in six innings of toil for the Rangers, who with the triumph climb to the summit of the American League West at seven-and-forty against six-and-forty.

News Around the League

A Suspension Handed Down

The wires carry word that first baseman Willson Contreras has been suspended — a stern rap of the disciplinary gavel that shall thin a lineup for days to come. The Herald sets down the fact as reported and awaits the particulars.

The Sick and the Shelved

A busy day upon the training tables: Washington placed right-hander Brad Lord upon the fifteen-day injured list (left-side tightness), Philadelphia shelved left-hander Tanner Banks with a strained forearm, and Cleveland set down left-hander Tim Herrin with an elbow contusion. Minnesota, too, lost left-hander Connor Prielipp to a blistered finger. Happier tidings for Miami, which welcomed back right-hander Janson Junk from the injured list — and he promptly earned the win — and for Milwaukee, which restored right-hander Logan Henderson, who likewise claimed a victory upon his return.

The Leaders' Ledger, As It Now Stands

In the senior circuit, Philadelphia's Kyle Schwarber holds the home-run scepter with two-and-thirty, while Miami's Otto Lopez keeps the loftiest average at a gaudy .345. St. Louis's Jordan Walker paces the runs-batted-in column with three-and-seventy. In the junior loop, Houston's Yordan Alvarez commands the batting crown (.310), the home-run count (nine-and-twenty), and the runs-batted-in tally (seven-and-sixty) all at once — a rare and kingly hoarding of laurels — while New York's Schlittler owns the stingiest earned-run mark at two-and-one-hundredth of a run (2.01).

The Rest of the Card

Braves Batter Pirates, Ten to Five, on Yastrzemski's Grand Slam

At Pittsburgh the league-topping Atlanta nine put eleven safeties to work and prevailed ten to five, the blow of the day a ninth-inning grand slam off the bat of Mike Yastrzemski, who drove home four in all. Matt Olson (his five-and-twentieth) and Jim Jarvis also cleared the fence, while Jake Mangum answered gamely for the Buccos with a homer, a double, and three runs batted in. Spencer Dodd (two-and-nil) earned the verdict in relief; Mitch Keller (six-and-seven) took the loss. The Braves stand atop the National League East at four-and-fifty against eight-and-thirty.

Mets Down Royals, Seven to Three, on a Five-Run Fifth

New York's National Leaguers erupted for five runs in the fifth to topple Kansas City seven to three. Juan Soto and Tyrone Taylor each launched a long ball, and Sean Manaea (two-and-four) worked seven sturdy innings for the win. Michael Wacha (five-and-seven) bore the loss. Bobby Witt Jr. homered for the Royals — his league-leading base-stealing exploits notwithstanding — but it availed them naught.

Yankees Rout Rays, Twelve to Four, Behind Rice's Two Blasts

New York's Americans pummeled Tampa Bay twelve to four, Ben Rice authoring the carnage with two home runs and five runs batted in to lift his season's count to eight-and-twenty round-trippers, second in all the junior circuit. Austin Wells added a blast of his own and Ryan McMahon two doubles. Tim Yarbrough (one-and-nil) claimed the win in relief; Drew Rasmussen (seven-and-five) was routed for six runs. Junior Caminero's seven-and-twentieth homer was Tampa Bay's lone flourish.

Orioles Nip Cubs, Three to Two, in a Late Turn

Baltimore edged Chicago's Cubs three to two in a taut affair decided in the eighth, when pinch-hitter Jeremiah Jackson doubled home the tying and winning runs. Tyler O'Neill had earlier homered for the O's. Seiya Suzuki did his mighty best for the visitors — a homer, a double, and three hits, driving in both Chicago tallies — but it was not enough. Alec Wells (two-and-one) took the win and Robert Kittredge nailed down his second save; Caleb Ferguson (nil-and-one) suffered the defeat.

Guardians Turn Back Twins, Five to Two

Cleveland bested Minnesota five to two behind a dazzling turn from Gavin Williams (now ten-and-four), who whiffed eleven across seven innings. Chase DeLauter, Gabriel Arias, and Patrick Bailey all cleared the wall for the Guards, and Cade Smith recorded his seven-and-twentieth save, tops among American League firemen. Royce Lewis homered for the Twins in defeat.

Red Sox Nip White Sox, Two to One

Boston bested Chicago's American Leaguers two to one in a crisp pitcher's duel, the decisive blow a two-run homer from Caleb Durbin in the fourth. Isaiah Guerrero (one-and-one) earned the win in relief and Aroldis Chapman his nineteenth save; Anthony Kay (six-and-four) took the loss. Andrew Benintendi's run-scoring single was the Pale Hose's only answer, and the streaking Sox from Boston have now won six straight.

Tigers Handle Athletics, Four to One

Detroit dispatched the Athletics four to one on a trio of home runs — from Zach McKinstry (two runs batted in), Jake Rogers, and the improbable Eduardo Valencia, whose first big-league blast came in his very first hit. Framber Valdez (five-and-six) fanned nine over seven innings for the win, and Kenley Jansen slammed the door for his eleventh save. Joey Perkins (two-and-five) took the loss for the visitors, who slump on with but one win in their last ten.

Marlins Best Mariners, Eight to Four

Miami dashed to an early lead and held off Seattle eight to four, a four-run fourth doing the heavy work. Otto Lopez tripled home a pair and Griffin Conine homered for the Fish, while the returning Janson Junk (four-and-five) earned the victory. Bryan Miller (four-and-three) took the loss despite a tidy earned-run mark. Randy Arozarena and Dominic Canzone homered for the Mariners, but two Seattle miscues in the field proved costly.

Phillies Blank Reds, One to Nothing

Philadelphia squeezed past Cincinnati one to nothing in a taut shutout, the game's lone run coming in the eighth on Justin Crawford's run-scoring single. Jesus Luzardo (eight-and-four) was masterful, striking out eleven across seven scoreless frames, and Jhoan Duran slammed the door for his three-and-twentieth save. Brady Singer (three-and-nine) pitched well in a hard-luck loss for the Reds.

Brewers Handle Cardinals, Eight to Four

The runaway Milwaukee nine downed St. Louis eight to four, a four-run third providing the cushion. Jake Bauers drove in three with a home run and Brice Turang added a homer and two runs batted in. Logan Henderson (three-and-one), freshly returned from the injured list, took the win; Andre Pallante (ten-and-six) the loss. Jordan Walker's league-leading three-and-seventieth run batted in came on a three-run homer for the Cards, though the Brewers remain the class of the land at nine-and-fifty against four-and-thirty.

Diamondbacks Subdue Padres, Three to One

Arizona bested San Diego three to one, Nolan Arenado's eleventh homer the decisive stroke and Merrill Kelly (seven-and-eight) tossing seven strong. Ryan Sewald recorded his one-and-twentieth save. Manny Machado homered for the Padres in defeat, and Elvis Canning (one-and-seven) took the loss.

Giants Overpower Rockies, Eight to Two

San Francisco battered Colorado eight to two, a four-run eighth putting the matter beyond doubt. Casey Schmitt (a homer, two doubles, two runs batted in), Bryce Eldridge, and Willy Adames all cleared the wall for the home nine, while Luis Arraez kept his glittering .326 average humming with two more hits. Carson Whisenhunt (two-and-nil) claimed the win; Ryan Feltner (three-and-three) the loss. Willi Castro's two-run homer was Colorado's chief reply.

And so the ledger for the Ninth of July is set down entire, two-and-ten contests faithfully rendered, no run left unrecorded nor deed unsung. We doff our derby to Wyatt Langford, whose ninth-inning stroke at Arlington snatched triumph from the very brink of calamity. Until the morrow's dispatch, keep your scorecards near and your enthusiasms nearer.

~ THE HERALD ~