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‘Walk-off Wyatt’ Langford does it again for Texas Rangers in win over Pirates

A singular run was all it took for Texas to win a pitching duel against the Pirates when the Rangers’ rookie outfielder came through in the 9th.

ARLINGTON — Walk-off Wyatt does have a ring to it.

Rookie left fielder Wyatt Langford played hero in the Texas Rangers’ 1-0 win vs. the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday at Globe Life Field when his two-out single in the bottom of the ninth inning scored pinch runner Ezequiel Duran for the walk-off winner. The Rangers’ sixth walk-off win of the season and second of this homestand snapped a seven-series losing streak that dated back to July.

Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) reacts after hitting a walk-off single during...
Texas Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford (36) reacts after hitting a walk-off single during the ninth inning of an MLB game against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Wednesday, Aug. 21, 2024, in Arlington. The Rangers defeated the Pirates 1-0.(Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer)

Langford now has two walk-off hits — Wednesday’s and a bases-loaded single in the bottom of the 10th inning vs. the Chicago White Sox on July 22 — and a go-ahead three-run home run in the ninth inning of the Rangers’ extra-inning win against the Boston Red Sox last week. The former first round pick has slashed .289/.368/.495 with runners in scoring position this season.

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“There’s something about guys who have a nose for a big RBI, and I think he does have a knack of rising to the occasion when needed,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “You go back to the home run in Boston, the walk offs, today and previously. You know he’s going to get his swings in.”

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The Rangers — who had been shut out in 22-straight innings by the Pirates prior to Wednesday’s final frame — started the ninth inning with consecutive singles from Jonah Heim and Adolis García vs. Pittsburgh closer David Bednar. After Nathaniel Lowe lined out and Josh Jung struck out, Langford corralled a curveball inside from Bednar to drive in the winning run.

Langford was the only Ranger to reach base three times on Wednesday. He had two of Texas’ six hits — including their first, with one out in the bottom of the second inning vs. Pittsburgh starter Domingo Germán — a walk and a stolen base.

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“It was great,” Langford said. “Obviously it’s always good to be in that spot and come through. So, yeah, it was a cool.”

It ensured that the Rangers did not waste a spectacular pitching performance. Starting pitcher Andrew Heaney and relievers José Leclerc, Andrew Chafin, David Robertson and Kirby Yates combined to strike out 16 batters in Texas’ 10th shutout win this season. It was the sixth time this season that Heaney — who threw five scoreless innings and struck out eight batters — was given zero runs of support by the Rangers’ offense.

“You can say what you want about the offense and all that, but if you don’t go five innings, you don’t get a win,” Heaney said. “There have been plenty of times I haven’t gone five innings, haven’t qualified. There have been times I’ve been left out there and haven’t made pitches and given up big runs in big situations that’s kind of deflated close games or leads or whatever it is. I take things from what I can control, and that’s how I approach it.”

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