CINCINNATI — In a nail-biting conclusion to the series, Jack Leiter once again proved to be a formidable force as the Texas Rangers narrowly defeated the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 on Wednesday, thus clinching the three-game series. Despite being outscored by the Reds 14-5 over the series of games, the Rangers emerged victorious.
Leiter, posting a record of 2-0, demonstrated remarkable pitching skills, suppressing Cincinnati’s lineup by dismissing their first 11 batters. It wasn’t until Elly De La Cruz broke through with a double that the Reds had their first hit. Though Leiter’s outing was cut short by a blister after the fifth inning, he still managed to equal his career-high with six strikeouts.
The game’s lone run came courtesy of Josh Smith, whose timely two-out double in the fourth inning sent Joc Pederson to home plate. Hunter Greene, with a record of 0-1, allowed the run despite delivering seven innings of effective pitching, conceding just two hits. Smith, who started the season hitless in eight at-bats, found some rhythm with two hits in the closing games of the series.
Greene marked a career milestone by striking out Jake Burger, recording the 500th strikeout of his career. Meanwhile, De La Cruz showcased his defensive prowess with a phenomenal catch of a foul ball along the left field in the eighth inning.
The bullpen combination of Jacob Webb, Robert Garcia, Chris Martin, and Luke Jackson, who secured his third save, ensured a smooth ending by pitching four scoreless innings in relief of Leiter. The Reds posed a threat with the tying run on base in the ninth, but for the second consecutive game, De La Cruz’s at-bat concluded with a groundout, sealing the win for Texas.
A pivotal moment occurred when Joc Pederson’s slow roller managed to sneak past third baseman Jeimer Candelario, setting the stage for the winning run to cross. Despite their earlier offensive surge, scoring 14 runs through the series’ first two games, the Reds were kept silent in the series’ final 20 innings.
Looking ahead, the Rangers have Thursday off before Tyler Mahle (0-0, 5.40 ERA) opens their next series against Tampa Bay, facing Zack Littell (0-1, 1.50 ERA). Meanwhile, the Reds prepare for their upcoming game, with Nick Lodolo (1-0, 3.00 ERA) pitching against Milwaukee’s Nestor Cortes (0-1, 36.00 ERA).