Tyler Stephenson belted a two-run homer in the ninth inning, helping the Cincinnati Reds spoil the Texas Rangers’ home opener with a 5-3 victory on Friday afternoon in Arlington, Texas.
Spencer Steer launched a two-run homer in the second inning and had a double to lead off the ninth. He didn’t stay on second base for long, however, as Stephenson deposited a 3-2 sinker from Chris Martin (1-1) over the wall in right-center field to give the Reds a 5-3 lead.
Stephenson’s first homer of the season made a winner out of Tony Santillan (1-0), who retired the side in order in the eighth inning. Emilio Pagan did the same in the ninth to secure his second save of the season.
Cincinnati’s Elly De La Cruz homered to lead off the sixth inning.
Matt McLain, Eugenio Suarez, Stephenson and Steer each had two hits for the Reds, who snapped a two-game losing skid.
Texas’ Danny Jansen ripped a two-run double in the second inning and Wyatt Langford added an RBI double in the seventh.
De La Cruz flashed a bunt attempt on the first pitch he saw from MacKenzie Gore in the sixth inning before depositing a fastball over the left-center field wall to stake Cincinnati to a 3-2 lead. The homer was De La Cruz’s third of the season and second in his last three games.
Gore finished with nine strikeouts over six innings, surrendering three runs on six hits.
Texas forged a 3-3 tie in the seventh inning, as Brandon Nimmo ripped a one-out triple and came home on Langford’s double.
Suarez had a one-out single in the second inning before Steer sent a 0-1 cutter from Gore over the left-field wall to give the Reds a 2-0 lead. Steer’s homer was his first of the season.
The Rangers responded in their half of the inning, as Josh Jung and Evan Carter each recorded two-out hits against Brady Singer before coming home on Jansen’s double to left field.
