How the Texas Rangers beat the Baltimore Orioles in the opening game of the ALDS
The Texas Rangers’ postseason roll continues.
Texas beat Baltimore 3-2 in the opening game of the best-of-five American League Division Series at Camden Yards on Saturday.
It’s the third straight postseason win for the Rangers, who swept Tampa Bay in two games in the American League wild card playoffs.
How the Rangers beat the Orioles on Saturday:
Strong pitching
Credit the Rangers’ pitching. Yep, who would’ve figured it would be their pitching. Starter Andrew Heaney and five relievers combined to allow just two runs and five hits and five walks.
Special rookies
Evan Carter, who hit so well against Tampa in the American League Wild Card series, continued his torrid batting against the Orioles. His double in the fourth inning scored Adolos Garcia with the Rangers’ first run. He then scored the Rangers’ second run on Jonah Heim’s double for a 2-0 Texas lead.
Including the Tampa series, Carter reached base via hit or walk in 10 of his first 11 postseason appearances.
After the Orioles cut the lead to 3-1, Texas rookie third baseman Josh Jung smacked a solo home run in the sixth to push the Rangers’ lead to 3-1.
Defensive gem
Jung was a defensive hero, too. After the Orioles’ first two runners reached base in the bottom of the eighth inning (off back-to-back walks by Aroldis Champman, Jung came up big. He snared a Anthony Santander hot grounder to start a double play that helped squelch a potential Orioles rally. Chapman then got out of the inning by striking out Ryan Mountcastle.
Another big play
After Gunnar Henderson led off the ninth with a walk, Texas catcher Jonah Heim threw Henderson out trying to steal.
Strong start
Heaney, somewhat a surprise starter, allowed one run on two hits and one walk in 3.2 innings before he was relieved by Dane Dunning. Dunning allowed one run (on an Anthony Santander solo home run) over two hits in two innings.
Strikeout heavy
The Rangers struck out 16 times against six Orioles pitchers. Orioles starter Kyle Bradish struck out nine in 4.2 innings.
Did you know?
Entering Sunday, 36 of the Rangers’ 42 all-time postseason games against American League opponents have been against AL East teams.
Missing aces
Neither Texas pitcher Max Scherzer or Orioles pitcher John Means are on the ALDS rosters. Scherzer has been recovering from a late-season shoulder injury; Means had some elbow soreness on his left elbow during a Thursday workout. Both could return for the American League Championship Series if their teams advance
Up next
Game 2 is set for Camden Yards on Sunday. First pitch is at 3:07 p.m. CT. Jordan Montgomery starts for the Rangers, facing the Orioles’ Grayson Rodriguez.