*Photo from MSN*
Game one, game won. Travis Jankowski hit a game tying home run, Jonah Heim delivered the game winning hit, and the Texas Rangers defeated the Chicago Cubs with a 4-3 extra innings win on Thursday night in Arlington.
On a night that saw the Rangers first World Series championship banner unfurled in the rafters, they rallied back multiple times from deficits to win the game in extra innings. A few big hits played a role while the pitching staff was able to piece it together in the end.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said after the game that "This game is all about putting a little adversity behind you and your mistakes. I don't want guys dwelling on that. I said, ‘Hey, it's over. You can't do anything about it, let's move on.’ And he did that. You can't get a bigger hit than that, so good for him. I know he felt terrible, but know what, you learn from it. What an opener. A very exciting game."
Dansby Swanson got the scoring started in the second inning. He gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead with a sac fly to right center field that scored Christopher Morel. The Rangers were able to tie it 1-1 in the 4th inning with a sac fly from Wyatt Langford that scored Josh Jung. Cody Bellinger gave the Cubs a 2-1 lead in the top of the 6th on an RBI double.
Adolis Garcia tied the game quickly for the Rangers in the bottom of the 6th, blasting a solo home run to left field. The Cubs took a 3-2 lead in the top of the 9th when Michael Busch scored on a wild pitch on a play the Rangers thought was a foul ball. Jankowski made that moot in the bottom of the 9th with a game tying solo home run. In the 10th, an RBI single by Heim gave the Rangers the walk off win.
Heim said of his big hit that "We had a lot of great at-bats in the 10th inning and they gave me an opportunity. Anytime you win a game in the big leagues, it's a good day. When you feel like you kind of let your team down there and then you get a chance to win the game, it's even better. Like I said, don't get that opportunity without the guys in front of me, so a good team win."
Nathan Eovaldi was the opening day starter for the Rangers, allowing two runs in 6 innings pitched. Josh Sborz and Kirby Yates pitched a scoreless inning each before Jose Leclerc allowed a run in the 9th. David Robertson pitched a scoreless 10th to get the win.
Justin Steele started for the Cubs and allowed one run through 4 2/3 innings before leaving injured. Julian Merryweather got the last out of the 5th before Yency Almonte got just one out in the 6th and allowed a run. Mark Leiter Jr pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings and Hector Neris had one shutout inning before Adbert Alzolay blew the save opportunity in the 9th and Drew Smyly got the loss in the 10th by allowing the walk off hit.
Chicago manager Craig Counsell said of Steele's injury that "You're going to have things like this happen during the season. First day of the season, it probably stings a little worse. But this is going to be part of our season and it's testing us immediately."
After a day off on Friday, game two of the series is on Saturday. Cody Bradford starts for the Rangers as they look to secure the series win while the Cubs send Kyle Hendricks to the mound as they try to even the series at a game apiece.
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