Wyatt Langford hit a 435-foot homer to open a six-run fifth inning, Elias Diaz had three hits and an RBI, and the Texas Rangers beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 on Saturday in Phoenix to even a three-game series.
Rangers right-hander Nathan Eovaldi, activated from the injured list Saturday, gave up one run over 2 2-3 innings of relief in his first appearance since Aug. 7, though he did not factor in the decision.
Eovaldi entered in the sixth with a 6-1 lead and made his first regular-season relief appearance since Aug. 14, 2019, while with Boston. Jacob Latz got the last four outs.
Brandon Nimmo had two doubles and an RBI and Josh Jung had two hits and an RBI. Jung was also activated from the injured list Saturday after being out with a left calf strain since July 21. Langford added a double.
Tim Tawa tripled and scored, while Pavan Smith and Corbin Carroll had RBIs for the D-backs, who had won five of six.
Texas had lost three in a row and five of seven.
The Rangers (73-76) gained a game in both the American League West and wild card races. They are two games behind Houston (75-74) in the division and two behind Cleveland for the third AL wild card spot.
Texas DH Joc Pederson was struck by a pitch on the right wrist in the fifth and left for a pinch-hitter in the sixth. He missed two months last season with a fractured right hand.
D-backs starter Brandon Pfaadt (7-3) gave up six runs and 10 hits in 6 2-3 innings, with seven strikeouts and no walks. The D-backs had won 11 of his last 13 starts.
The D-backs (79-70) are 1 1/2 games behind San Diego (80-68) for the third NL wild card spot. The Chicago Cubs (83-66) are one game ahead of Philadelphia (82-67) for the top spot.
Texas starter Kumar Rocker gave up one run on two hits in four-plus innings, leaving after walking two to open the fifth with a 6-1 lead. Robert Garcia (1-1) got the next three. Rocker struck out five and walked two.
Tawa tripled and scored on Pavin Smith’s single for a 1-0 lead in the third.
The Rangers had six hits in their six-run fifth. Langford homered before Jake Burger singled, stole second and scored on Diaz’s single.
After Pederson was hit by a pitch, Corey Seager hit a grounder to first that forced Pederson at second. Pfaadt took a throw at first for a potential inning-ending double play, but after a review, he was deemed to be off the bag.
Jung followed with a two-out RBI single, Nimmo added an RBI double and Duran capped the inning with a two-run single.
Corbin Carroll’s sacrifice fly made it 6-2 in the sixth.
–Field Level Media
