Cincinnati Reds first baseman Spencer Steer makes a diving stop on a ball hit by Texas Rangers Nathaniel Lowe in the third inning the Rangers’ 4-3 win over the Reds on Sunday.
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Wyatt Langford and Adolis García homered during Texas’ four-run first inning, helping Dane Dunning and the Rangers beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 on Sunday.
Dunning (3-2) struck out a season-high 10 in 5 1/3 innings. He allowed two runs, one earned, and three hits.
García golfed an 0-2 curve from Andrew Abbott (1-3) deep to left for a two-run homer with two out in the first inning. After Jonah Heim singled, Langford went on a memorable dash around the bases for his first career homer.
The 22-year-old Langford drove a 3-2 fastball toward the gap in right-center. The ball caromed off a small portion of the wall that is angled toward the foul line in right, and it got away from right fielder Jake Fraley.
Langford scored without a throw, giving the Rangers a 4-0 lead.
Cincinnati responded with three runs in the sixth, taking advantage of two Texas errors. Luke Maile doubled and scored on Will Benson’s single.
Dunning’s 69 pitches were the fourth-fewest for a pitcher striking out 10 or more since pitch counts began being tracked in 1988. He had allowed at least one homer in each of his previous five starts.
Kirby Yates handled the ninth for his fifth save in five chances, stranding runners on first and second. Yates has pitched 12 scoreless innings over 11 appearances this season.
Abbott departed after Nathaniel Lowe’s one-out single in the sixth. He struck out seven, equaling a season high, and walked none.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: X-rays were negative on C Tyler Stephenson and 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand, both hit by pitch on Saturday. Neither was in Sunday’s lineup. Manager David Bell said Stephenson was already scheduled for an off day.
UP NEXT
Reds: LHP Nick Lodolo (2-0, 2.12 ERA) will open a three-game series at San Diego on Monday night against Padres RHP Matt Waldron (1-2, 3.96 ERA).
Rangers: RHP Jon Gray (0-1, 2.92 ERA) will face Washington LHP MacKenzie Gore (2-2, 3.12 ERA) on Tuesday night to begin a three-game home series.
