Josh Jung contributes to win in return
The Texas Rangers scored seven runs while the formerly Oakland Athletics scored two runs.
Maybe it’s why I like it so much but no sport has a sense of humor quite like baseball. Take for example Josh Jung hitting a home run in his first at-bat back after being banished to Round Rock at the beginning of the month.
Later on in the evening Cody Freeman, the prospect who was called up recently instead of Jung to the surprise of many, got his first big league hit. Freeman smacked a big RBI double in the fifth inning that broke a 1-1 tie and kicked off the scoring spree that eventually led to the victory.
If that wasn’t enough baseball-style humor, there was Michael Helman — recalled just today in place of the scuffling Alejandro Osuna — finishing off the four-run fifth inning with his first ever big league home run in the same frame as Freeman’s first hit.
The Rangers have had a lot of moving parts trying to find the right combination for when they are asked to platoon. And tonight, with a left-hander on the mound for the formerly Oaklands, the Helmans, Freemans, and Jungs of the lineup came through with some memorable moments.
While the lineup got back to their pre-All-Star break success, on the mound Jack Leiter also acquitted himself pretty well with six innings of two run ball. Leiter was a tad effectively wild allowing four walks but he also only gave up four hits and struck out seven.
The victory allowed Leiter to even his season record at 6-6 and helped the Rangers jump back over .500.
Player of the Game: After spending the last three weeks or so in Triple-A, Jung was welcomed back to the big leagues and he looked at lot more like the 2023 Rookie of the Year candidate than the guy OPSing a disappointing .648 through 75 games this season.
Jung went 2-for-2 with a walk, his ninth homer of the year, and a team-high three runs scored. Welcome back, Jungle Cat.
Up Next: The Rangers will try to reach at least two games above .500 tomorrow evening for the first time since they were 25-23 two months ago. RHP Jacob deGrom will make his first start of the second half for Texas opposite a pitcher to be named for the Athletics.
The Tuesday evening first pitch from The Shed is scheduled for 7:05 pm CT and will be aired via the Rangers Sports Network.