Seager's Late Double Propels Rangers Past Tigers, Extending Detroit's Losing Streak
In a pivotal moment during Friday night’s game, Corey Seager delivered a two-run double in the eighth inning, securing a 2-0 victory for the Texas Rangers against the Detroit Tigers. This win not only brought the Rangers back to a .500 record but also extended the Tigers' losing streak to five games, their longest of the season.
The Tigers, boasting a league-high six All-Stars this week, entered the All-Star break with the best record in Major League Baseball at 59-39. However, their recent performance has been lackluster, having lost their last four games leading into the break.
Seager's decisive hit came after Cody Freeman, making his major league debut as a pinch-runner for Kyle Higashioka, scored following a double. Josh Smith, who had walked earlier against Tommy Kahnle, also crossed home plate as Seager's line drive found the right-center gap and rolled to the wall.
On the mound, Chris Martin, the third pitcher for Texas, held strong in the eighth inning. Robert Garcia closed out the game in the ninth, earning his seventh save in ten opportunities and contributing to the Rangers' tenth shutout of the season.
Both starting pitchers showcased impressive performances, with neither allowing a run through the sixth inning. Patrick Corbin of the Rangers struck out six batters over 5 2/3 innings, while Reese Olson of Detroit recorded five strikeouts before exiting after Jonah Heim's leadoff double in the sixth—only the second hit allowed by Olson.
With this victory, the Rangers improved to 49-49, achieving a .500 record for the first time since June 15. They had previously lost seven consecutive games when on the verge of reaching this milestone.
Looking ahead, Keider Montero (4-1, 4.02 ERA) is set to pitch for Detroit in Saturday's matchup, while rookie Kumar Rocker (3-4, 6.39) will take the mound for Texas in the second game of this three-game series.
