The Texas Rangers took down the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Monday night, winning the opening game of the series and their third straight game since their Opening Day loss.
When the Texas Rangers boarded a bus on Sunday night to head from Philadelphia to Maryland, they were certainly feeling pretty good about themselves.
Texas had just taken two of three on the road to open the season, and the good vibes certainly got on that bus and made the trip with them.
The Rangers took down the Baltimore Orioles 5-2 on Monday night, winning the opening game of the series and their third straight game since their Opening Day loss.
Jack Leiter got the start for the Rangers and looked really sharp in his first start of the 2026 season.
Leiter took the mound in his number 22 jersey for the first time in the big leagues after switching from number 35 over the off-season.
It’s safe to say that Leiter’s first start in his new number was a success as he went six innings, allowing just five hits and two runs while striking out eight Orioles and only walking one.
Looking beyond the line, Leiter showed good movement on his off-speed pitches and good life in his fastball.
For the first time ever, Leiter featured a cutter that he developed over the off-season, and he was able to use it effectively multiple times through his outing.
The Rangers got on the board quickly as in the first inning, Jake Burger tapped a ball back to Orioles pitcher Chris Bassitt, who attempted to field the ball and throw out Brandon Nimmo running home but fired one past catcher Adley Rutschman, allowing Nimmo to score and giving the Rangers a 1-0 lead.
After a solo home run off the bat of Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson, it didn’t take long for Texas to regain the lead for good.
The very next half inning, Nimmo laced a base hit to give the Rangers the lead back before Jake Burger continued his hot start to the season, picking up an RBI single of his own.
Joc Pederson also got in on the action in the inning as well, lifting a sac fly to make it 4-2 Rangers.
In the 9th with Texas needing an insurance run, Josh Smith flipped a two-strike bloop single into left field to make it 5-2.
Tyler Alexander would come on and pitch a clean ninth inning, securing yet another victory for the Rangers.
Texas will be back in action on Tuesday night as they play game two of their series with the Orioles.
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