The game was settled early and padded often. Texas took control in the second inning and kept adding to its lead through the seventh, turning what began as a tight contest into a comfortable 10-4 win over Detroit on Thursday at Globe Life Field. The Rangers have now won six straight.
Elias Diaz set the tone with a go-ahead home run to left center — 414 feet — in the second inning, the first run of the game. Texas added two more in that frame, with Osuna scoring on a walk by Jung and Lopez crossing the plate on a sacrifice fly by Ezequiel Duran. Duran finished 2-for-4 with 2 RBI on the night. Josh Jung went 2-for-3 with a double, 2 RBI, and 2 walks, while Nicky Lopez was 3-for-5 with 2 runs scored and an RBI. Alejandro Osuna also went 3-for-5 with 2 runs and an RBI.
Texas extended the lead to 5-0 through four innings. Jung's double to left scored Lopez in the fourth, and Duran's single to center brought Jung home. Detroit answered in the fifth: Colt Keith homered to right center at 405 feet, then Hao Yu Lee hit a two-run homer to left center — 383 feet — with McKinstry scoring, cutting the deficit to 5-3. Texas responded with Josh Smith's solo shot to right in the sixth, a 406-foot blast, and then broke the game open with three more in the seventh. Carter scored on Osuna's single, Díaz scored on Lopez's single, and Osuna crossed the plate on Smith's infield single. Smith finished 2-for-2 with a home run and 2 RBI. Evan Carter added a solo homer to center — 422 feet — in the eighth to make it 10-4.
Nathan Eovaldi earned the win, going 5.0 innings and allowing 3 runs on 6 hits with 9 strikeouts and 1 walk on 85 pitches, improving to 9-7 with a 4.02 ERA. Framber Valdez took the loss for Detroit, surrendering 5 runs on 9 hits over 5.0 innings with 1 strikeout and 2 walks, falling to 4-6 with a 4.29 ERA.
Texas moved to 44-42 and sits atop the division standings. Detroit fell to 37-49, fourth in their division, despite having won two straight entering the game.