Rangers Snap Eight-Game Skid With 4-2 Win Over Twins

ARLINGTON, Texas — Josh Smith homered and Billy McKinney delivered the go-ahead RBI in the seventh inning as the Texas Rangers rallied past the Minnesota Twins 4-2 on Wednesday night, snapping their season-worst eight-game losing streak.

After Byron Buxton opened the game with a towering 447-foot home run — his career-high 32nd and 18th career leadoff blast — Jacob deGrom settled in, striking out nine over five strong innings. The veteran right-hander allowed just one hit and one walk after the early homer, finishing his 30th start of the season with a 12-8 record and a 2.97 ERA.

Smith evened the score at 1-1 in the fourth with his 10th home run of the year, a leadoff shot off Taj Bradley. Bradley was sharp otherwise, striking out nine while allowing just two hits and one run across six innings.

The Rangers broke through in the seventh. Ezequiel Duran singled off Travis Adams (1-4) and stole second before McKinney drove him in with an RBI single to left. McKinney advanced to second on the throw and later scored on a wild pitch for a 3-1 lead. A second wild pitch — this one from reliever Génesis Cabrera — allowed Jonah Heim, who had reached on a single, to come home and make it 4-1.

The Twins cut the deficit in the eighth with Royce Lewis’ RBI single, but Rangers relievers Robert Garcia (4-7), Shawn Armstrong, and Phil Maton shut the door. Maton pitched a clean ninth for his fifth save of the season.

Earlier in the game, Kody Clemens drew a walk and stole second before advancing to third on a wild pitch, but deGrom stranded him with back-to-back strikeouts and a flyout to end the threat.

The 37-year-old deGrom reached the 30-start milestone for the first time since 2019 with the Mets — a notable achievement in a season where health has often been a storyline.

Up Next:
The series wraps up Thursday as the Twins send RHP Bailey Ober (5-9, 5.32 ERA) to the mound against Rangers RHP Tyler Mahle (6-3, 2.20 ERA).