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. The 33-year-old left-hander entered the game with an MLB-leading 13 losses and the eighth-lowest run support among AL qualifiers at 3.84 per game. He received no run support Wednesday.
Pittsburgh’s Domingo Germán pitched six scoreless innings, giving up three singles and four walks in his first major league start this year. Germán, who pitched a perfect game for the New York Yankees in June 2023, made three relief appearances for Pittsburgh after being recalled on Aug. 9 from Triple-A Indianapolis.
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.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: Manager Bruce Bochy said if all goes well in Friday’s scheduled rehab start by RHP Max Scherzer (arm fatigue) at Double-A Frisco, the 40-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner should start next week when the club visits the Chicago White Sox.
UP NEXT
Pirates: All-Star rookie RHP Paul Skenes (7-2, 2.30 ERA) will begin a four-game home series on Thursday against Cincinnati. Skenes has pitched 125 1/3 innings this year with Pittsburgh and Indianapolis after throwing 129 last year for LSU and three Pirates minor league teams.
Rangers: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (8-7, 3.76) will pitch Friday’s series opener at Cleveland.
