In Arlington, Texas, Marcus Semien showcased his talents with a powerful two-run home run and went on to secure four hits, equaling his career-best performance. Meanwhile, Jack Leiter delivered an exceptional pitching display, completing 5 2/3 scoreless innings in what marked a standout showing in his 15 major league appearances, aiding the Texas Rangers in their emphatic 11-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night.
Leiter, now holding a 4-2 record, limited the opposition to just three singles, matching his previous best with six strikeouts and hitting a personal mark of 96 pitches. Semien was phenomenal, contributing three RBIs, a significant achievement considering his earlier slump, where he managed just 10 hits in 70 at-bats over the last 21 games.
Sam Haggerty enjoyed a stellar performance himself, joining in the offensive surge with three hits and three RBIs, matching his career-high in hits. Josh Jung also matched Haggerty’s accomplishments with three hits and three RBIs, while Wyatt Langford made his mark by launching a two-run homer.
The scoring opened with Haggerty crossing home on Josh Jung’s first-inning single, ending a frustrating team-wide 0-for-30 stretch. The Rangers, entering the game struggling with batting averages and runs in the American League, were relieved to break free from their recent scoring drought, having been contained to just three runs over their previous three matches. They had been shut out as recently as Wednesday and had failed to deliver any hits beyond Josh Smith’s initial single in the first inning.
Caleb Boushley concluded the game with three innings on the mound, achieving his first career save for the Rangers.
The Cardinals, standing at 32-25, missed the opportunity to stretch their record to nine games over .500 for the first time this season. The Rangers, on the other hand, fell just shy of their season-high in hits, amassing 15 hits during the game. The Cardinals managed their lone run in the eighth, courtesy of Lars Nootbaar doubling home Victor Scott II.
On the mound for the Cardinals, Matthew Liberatore (3-4) conceded five runs in the opening two innings, including one unearned.
A key highlight was Haggerty’s two-run triple in the second inning, expertly placed into the right-field corner on a full-count pitch. The Rangers’ strong pitching continues to be a bright spot, leading the majors with an impressive 2.81 ERA for their rotation.
Looking ahead, the Cardinals plan to start RHP Sonny Gray (5-1, 4.06 ERA) in the game on Saturday, facing off against LHP Patrick Corbin (3-3, 3.75 ERA).