Rookie Night! Wyatt Langford Provides Power, Jack Leiter Shows Progress As Texas Rangers Sweep Doubleheader

Texas Rangers rookies played a huge part in Wednesday's Game 2 win, but old veterans saved the day against the Chicago White Sox.

Aug 28, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter (35) delivers a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning of game two of the doubleheader at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Rookie Wyatt Langford belted a three-run home run in the fourth inning and Corey Seager blooped a soft single to center to score the go-ahead run in the ninth as the Texas Rangers swept both games of a doubleheader against the Chicago White Sox with a 4-3 win at Guaranteed Rate Field Wednesday night.

Rookie pitcher Jack Leiter made his fourth MLB start and lasted four-place innings. It was, by far, Leiter's best outing in the Majors despite failing to record an out in the fifth inning. He left leading 3-2 after the first two batters he faced reached in the fifth. One of those runners scored, but Jose Urena pitched valiantly in relief.

Leiter was charged with three runs (two earned) on six hits and two walks and struck out four in four innings.

Langford's three-run homer in the fourth gave Texas a 3-2 lead. Chicago tied with a run in the fifth, setting up Seager's go-ahead RBI in the ninth.

The Rangers still needed a game-saving, home run-robbing, walk-off-preventing catch by Travis Jankowski with one out and two on in the bottom of the ninth. White Sox hitter Andrew Vaughn thought he had a game-winning, three-run homer but Jankowski timed it perfectly and made the catch up and beyond the left-field wall to preserve the lead. Grant Anderson replaced Andrew Chafin for the final out.

Three thoughts from Game 2 Wednesday:

1. Big Night For Corey Seager

Aug 28, 2024; Chicago, IL, USA; Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager (5) hits an RBI-single against the Chicago White Sox during the seventh inning of game one of the doubleheader at Guaranteed Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports / Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

Corey Seager was 4 for 5 with two doubles and the game-winning RBI. No other Rangers hitter had more than one hit. It's Seager's second four-hit game in 2024 and first since the second game of the season on March 30. Seager has 33 multi-hit games this season.
Seager was 6 for 10 with two RBI and a run scored over both games of the doubleheader on Wednesday.

They almost had it 😂 #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/7Hbb3mFf2v

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) August 29, 2024

2. Eureka ForJosé Ureña

May 24, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Texas Rangers pitcher Jose Urena (54) pitches to Minnesota Twins shortstop Carlos Correa (4) in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports / Matt Blewett-USA TODAY Sports

Reliever José Ureña was spectacular again in long relief behind Jack Leiter. The veteran right-hander held the White Sox scoreless on two hits over four innings. In Ureña's past two appearances, he's held opponents scoreless on four hits and three walks while striking out five over eight innings.

3. Up Next

Jul 13, 2024; Houston, Texas, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) delivers a pitch against the Texas Rangers during the game at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports / Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports

Right-hander Nathan Eovaldi (9-7, 3.79) faces White Sox lefty Ky Bush (0-3, 5.60) in the series finale at 1:10 p.m. Thursday.

You can follow Stefan Stevenson on X @StefanVersusTex.

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