ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) – Adolis Garcia’s first major league homer, a two-run shot in the 10th inning, gave the Texas Rangers a 6-4 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Thursday night. Garcia drove a 1-2 pitch from Cody Reed (0-1) the other way into the right-field stands. Nick Solak and Charlie Culberson also homered for the Rangers, who have won three straight following a four-game losing streak.
Josh Sborz (1-0) pitched a scoreless inning, and Ian Kennedy finished his third save in three opportunities. Mike Brosseau homered for the Rays, who went 3 for 13 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12 overall. Solak had a solo homer in the second and an RBI single off Andrew Kittredge to drive in the final run charged to Rich Hill’s starter in the fifth. Culberson’s second series homer, a two-run shot off Hill in the fourth, gave the Rangers a short-lived 3-1 lead. The Rays erased deficits with Austin Meadows’ RBI single in the third, Brosseau’s two-run homer in the fourth, and without getting a hit in the seventh when Brett Phillips walked and scored the run that made it 4-all with help from a pair of throwing errors.
The Rangers looked like they might be on the verge of getting through the seventh unscathed when catcher Jose Trevino’s errant pickoff throw to second base continued into center field, allowing Phillips to take off for third. When center fielder Leody Taveras also threw wildly past third, Phillips raced home to tie it. Texas starter Jordan Lyles allowed three runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings. Hill went 4 1/3 innings for Tampa Bay, yielding four runs and seven hits.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: With OF/DH David Dahl getting a night off, Trevino batted second – ahead of Joey Gallo and Garcia – even though he’s not a prototypical No. 2 hitter. Texas manager Chris Woodward explained: “Why wouldn’t I? … I felt like I put a guy up there that’s obviously having the highest-quality at-bats and is one of our best hitters right now.” Rays: SS Willy Adames and DH/INF Yoshi Tsutsugo were rested
but were called to pinch-hit in the 10th. Kennedy fanned both of them. … CF Kevin Kiermaier (left quadriceps strain) will travel to New York this weekend and could be activated during a six-game road trip against the Yankees and Kansas City Royals. “He ran well, threw well. … We’ll see where we’re at (Friday),” manager Kevin Cash said after the defensive whiz worked out before the game.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Return home to face Baltimore for three games before returning to the road. Mike Foltynewicz (0-2, 4.09 ERA) starts Friday against the Orioles, who counter with Jorge Lopez (0-2, 11.42) in the series opener. Rays: Open a weekend series at Yankee Stadium. Cash entered Thursday night undecided on his pitching plans for Friday.
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