Rangers Triumph Over A's 7-2 with Stellar Performances

Josh Jung returned to the majors with a bang, hitting a home run and scoring three times as the Texas Rangers defeated the Oakland Athletics 7-2 on Monday night. Cody Freeman and Michael Helman made their big-league debuts memorable, achieving significant milestones on consecutive pitches.

The turning point came in the fifth inning when the Rangers scored four runs, taking control of the game. Freeman broke the tie with an RBI double, marking his first MLB hit and run batted in. Just moments later, Helman launched a three-run homer off rookie left-hander Jacob Lopez (3-6), also notching his first career RBIs. He later added another run with a sacrifice bunt.

Jung, who was an All-Star in 2023, had been sent down to Triple-A Round Rock on July 2 due to a slump but was recalled earlier that day. His ninth home run of the season came in the third inning, and he contributed further by walking and scoring on Helman's homer before adding a single and another run in the seventh.

On the mound, Rangers rookie Jack Leiter (6-6) showcased his skills by striking out seven batters over six innings, solidifying his role in the team's success.

For the Athletics, Nick Kurtz hit his rookie-best 19th home run in the sixth inning, providing a brief highlight for Oakland. Meanwhile, Lawrence Butler, starting in center field after Denzel Clarke was sidelined with an adductor strain, made an impressive leaping catch to rob Kyle Higashioka of a home run in the second inning.

Rangers left fielder Wyatt Langford also shone defensively, executing a sliding catch on Luis Urias' sinking liner and then making a running grab to deny Butler a hit in the third inning.

Freeman and Helman's achievements broke a 1-1 tie and propelled the Rangers forward. Corey Seager continued his impressive streak, extending it to 22 games with an RBI single in the seventh inning.

Looking ahead, Jacob deGrom (9-2, 2.32 ERA) is set to make his first start for Texas since July 12. The right-hander was the sole All-Star representative for the Rangers but did not pitch in last week's All-Star game.