Texas Rangers Beat Tampa Bay Rays On Walk-Off Wild Pitch

A two-run homer from Ezequiel Duran in the sixth and a wild pitch in the ninth were enough for the Texas Rangers to beat the Tampa Bay Rays.

Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

ARLINGTON, Texas – Josh Smith scored from third base on a wild pitch in the bottom of the ninth to give the Texas Rangers a 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays Monday night at Globe Life Field.

It's the Rangers' first walk-off win since June 5.

Smith was pinch-running for Josh Jung, who led off the inning with a double to left-center. Smith moved to third base on Nathaniel Lowe's groundout to second. That brought Mitch Garver to the plate with two outs against Rays' reliever Pete Fairbanks, who started the inning.

Even better in slo mo 😮‍💨 pic.twitter.com/OBGpbb48VG

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) July 18, 2023

The Rangers (56-39) have won four consecutive games, their longest win streak since winning a season-best five in a row on June 6.

Dane Dunning held the Rays (60-37) to two runs over seven innings and Ezequiel Duran tied the game with a two-run home run in the sixth inning.

Rays ace Shane McClanahan was rolling through the Rangers lineup after Marcus Semien's lead-off single in the first. He retired 14 consecutive batters before Robbie Grossman's infield single started the sixth.

McClanahan, who entered the game 11-1 with a 2.53 ERA, allowed two runs on three hits and struck out six in six innings.
First walk-off win for the Rangers since June 5 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Brand new ballgame! #StraightUpTX pic.twitter.com/7XTLJxNFLv

— Texas Rangers (@Rangers) July 18, 2023

Rangers 3, Rays 2

Here are three notables from the Rangers' 3-2 win over the Rays Monday night.

Dane Dunning Keeps Rolling

Rangers right-hander Dane Dunning pitched another gem. He held the Rays to two runs on five hits and a walk over seven innings. It's his longest outing since allowing two runs in 8 2/3 in a win against the Detroit Tigers on June 28.

Ezequiel Duran's Game-Tying Homer

Ezequiel Duran's two-run homer in the sixth tied the game at 2-2. It came after Robbie Grossman led off the inning with an infield single. Grossman's single was Texas' first baserunner since Marcus Semien led off the first with a single against Rays' ace Shane McClanahan. McClanahan retired 14 consecutive Rangers until Grossman's infield single to deep shortstop.

Let's Go Streaking!

The Rangers have won four consecutive games to open the second half for the first time since 2011. The longest post-All-Star Break win streak for the club is six wins in 1977.

Up Next

The Texas Rangers send Nathan Eovaldi (10-3, 2.83) to the mound against Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Taj Bradley (5-5, 5.43) in Game 2 at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday at Globe Life Field.

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You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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