Jack Leiter makes his pitching debut for the Rangers, who beat the Tigers 9-7.
Josh Smith of the Texas Rangers celebrates scoring against the Detroit Tigers in the ninth inning of a baseball game on Thursday, April 18, 2024 in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya.) (Paul Sancya/Associated Press) DETROIT — The Texas Rangers defeated the Detroit Tigers 9-7 on Thursday, with Leody Taveras scoring the winning run on a fielder’s choice in the eighth inning and an RBI single in the ninth. Taveras doubled with one out, moved to third on Marcus Semien’s fielder’s choice grounder, and scored on Corey Seager’s grounder to break a 7-all tie. Taveras added an insurance run with a two-out single in the eighth.
Jose Leclerc (1-2) earned the win in relief for Texas, which won three of four games in Detroit. Kirby Yates, who won the win on Wednesday, recorded his second save with a spotless ninth inning. Shelby Miller (3-2), the fifth of six Detroit pitchers, lost for the second straight day. The game marked Texas starter Jack Leiter’s major league debut, as the No. 2 overall pick in the 2021 draft. He was promoted from Triple-A Round Rock, where he went 1-1 with 25 strikeouts and three walks in 14 innings over three appearances.
He is the son of Al Leiter, who won 162 games throughout 19 major league seasons. Jack Leiter started strong, striking out leadoff hitter Riley Greene. The Rays beat the Angels 2-1 in St. Petersburg, Florida. Ryan Pepiot allowed one run and three hits in six good innings, and Amed Rosario delivered an RBI triple in Tampa Bay’s two-run first, as the Rays defeated the Los Angeles Angels on Thursday to split their four-game series. Pepiot (2-2) had seven strikeouts and three walks. He was acquired in a transaction that sent Rays ace Tyler Glasnow to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Colin Poche, the third Rays relief pitcher, worked out of a jam with two on and two outs in the ninth.
for his second save in three attempts. Pete Fairbanks, a struggling closer with a 9.00 ERA, pitched the previous two games. Rosario extended his hitting streak to 10 games with an RBI triple in the Rays’ first inning against Griffin Canning (0-3). He has nine RBIs over this stretch. Harold Ramírez’s sacrifice fly to right scored Rosario to make it 2-0. In the sixth inning, Mike Trout walked, stole second and third, and scored on Miguel Sanó’s sacrifice fly to bring the Angels within 2-1. Trout had five steals this year after only six in the previous four seasons.
GUARDIANS 5, RED SOX 4 BOSTON (AP) – Carlos Carrasco gave up two runs in 5 2/3 solid innings and Andrés Giménez had two RBIs to lead the Cleveland over Boston on Thursday. Ramón Laureano, Josh Naylor and José Ramírez also drove in runs for Cleveland, which took three of four from Boston and improved to a Central Division-best 13-6.