Scoreless through 9, Rangers beat Angels 2-1 as Langford has tying RBI then scores winner in 10th

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Wyatt Langford had a tying RBI double in the 10th inning, then scored the winning run on third baseman Denzer Guzman’s throwing error as the Texas Rangers beat the Los Angeles Angels 2-1 on Friday night.

Guzman had opened the top of the 10th with an RBI double to put the Angels ahead in the eighth MLB game this season that was scoreless going into extra innings.

With two outs in the bottom of the 10th after an intentional walk, Guzman made a nice backhanded stop on a grounder by Ezequiel Duran. But his wide throw to second base trying to get an inning-ending forceout allowed Langford to race home.

Tyler Alexander (4-2), the fourth Texas reliever, struck out two for the win after giving up Guzman’s hit into the left-center gap.

Ben Joyce (0-1) pitched the 10th, when both runs against him were unearned. Ryan Watson, the third Angels reliever, had struck out the side in the ninth after Duran had a leadoff double and went to third on a wild pitch.

The Angels pitching staff has a 1.81 ERA and allowed two runs or fewer in eight of 10 games since pitching coach Mike Maddux and two of his assistants were fired on Aug. 11.

Starting left-handers Reid Detmers for the Angels and MacKenzie Gore for Texas both went six innings.

Detmers, who has a 1.56 ERA in his seven starts since the All-Star break, struck out five. He got out of a bases-loaded jam in the fifth when Corey Seager took a 93-mph fastball for strike three.

Gore struck out seven while allowing two singles.

Rangers second baseman Cody Freeman saved a run with his diving stop on a hard grounder in the second, getting up to throw out Josh Lowe at first while Jose Siri stopped at third base before Travis d’Arnaud flew out to end the inning.

Up next

Dallas-born right-hander Ryan Johnson (2-7, 6.41 ERA), drafted out of Dallas Baptist just two years ago, is set to pitch for the Angels on Saturday night. Cody Bradford (0-1, 2.93) goes for Texas.

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