Jonah Heim hit a three-run homer and four Texas pitchers cooled off Baltimore’s bats as the Rangers salvaged the finale of their three-game series against the Orioles with a 3-2 win on Sunday in Arlington, Texas.
Heim’s fourth-inning blast provided enough support for starter Andrew Heaney, Josh Sborz, David Robertson and Kirby Yates, who limited Baltimore to its fewest runs and hits (five) in a game this series.
The Orioles tallied at least eight runs and 11 hits in each of the first two games.
The lefty Heaney (4-10) tossed five scoreless innings, allowing two hits and three walks while striking out four. Sborz followed with two shutout innings, surrendering one hit and fanning three.
Baltimore broke through against Robertson in the eighth, before Yates pitched a 1-2-3 ninth with two strikeouts to secure his 17th save.
Heim was one of six batters with a hit for Texas, which struck out just three times Sunday after fanning 23 times over the series’ first two games.
Anthony Santander hit a two-run homer in the eighth for the Orioles, who had their three-game win streak snapped. Baltimore center fielder Colton Cowser went 2-for-4 with a double.
The game was scoreless frames until the Rangers got to Orioles starter Dean Kremer (4-6) in the fourth.
Wyatt Langford drew a one-out walk and Nathaniel Lowe did likewise with two outs. Heim then hammered Kremer’s first-pitch splitter into the Texas bullpen in right-center to give the Rangers a 3-0 lead.
Heim’s ninth home run of the season gave the Rangers their first lead in the series.
After hitting seven home runs over the first two games, Baltimore hit a handful of deep fly balls against Heaney in the early innings that were caught on the warning track.
The Orioles never seriously threatened after Heim’s homer, putting two runners on base over the next three innings.
Santander’s 27th home run of the season came after Adley Rutschman drew a one-out walk.
–Field Level Media