Rangers Take Series Opener From Tigers

Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images

July 2, 2026

Rangers 10, Tigers 4

ARLINGTON, Texas — The Texas Rangers opened a long nine-game homestand with a 10–4 victory over the Detroit Tigers Thursday night. One of their many highlights was a solo home run by Elias Diaz in the second inning. After an off-day to accommodate Friday’s World Cup match between Australia and Egypt across the parking lot at Dallas Stadium, the Rangers will aim to win this three-game series against the Tigers on Saturday. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Right-handers Jack Flaherty (1–8, 4.97 ERA) and Kumar Rocker (2–6, 3.83 ERA) will go head-to-head in the middle game.

Diaz Touches Them All

The Rangers started their scoring in the bottom of the second against lefty Framber Valdez. With one out in the inning, Diaz blasted an 0–2 pitch to left-center for his fourth homer of the year. It was caught by an Australian fan who is in town to watch the aforementioned match between Australia and Egypt on Friday. Alejandro Osuna and Nicky Lopez followed with back-to-back singles. Valdez issued consecutive walks to Justin Foscue and Josh Jung to load the bases and force in Osuna, respectively. Lopez crossed the plate on the next play thanks to a sacrifice fly to right by Ezequiel Duran.

The Rangers added on in the top of the fourth. Lopez led off with a single up the middle. After Foscue flied to center, Jung drove in Lopez from first with a double to left. Moments later, Duran plated Jung with a single to center.

The Tigers cut into the lead in the top of the fifth off right-hander Nathan Eovaldi. Colt Keith opened the inning with a homer to right-center on an 0–2 pitch to mark his sixth long ball of the year. Later in the inning, Zach McKinstry hit a one-out single to center. James Outman struck out swinging to follow, bringing up Hao-Yu Lee, who hit a two-run shot on an 0–2 pitch that barely cleared the wall in left-center.

Late Scoring Chances for the Rangers

The Rangers scored an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth off reliever Beau Brieske. With one out, Josh Smith entered the game as a pinch-hitter for Foscue. On the first pitch he saw, Smith launched one to right for his first dinger of the season. It also marked the first pinch-hit home run of his career.

They extended their lead to 7–3 in the bottom of the seventh against reliever Drew Sommers. A leadoff infield single by Evan Carter eluded the reach of McKinstry at short. Diaz followed by drawing a walk. On deck was Osuna, who scored Carter with a single to left. Up next was Lopez, who plated Diaz with a single to right. Moments later, Lopez moved himself into scoring position with his fourth stolen base of the campaign. Osuna scored his second run of the evening courtesy of a two-out single to short that was deflected by the glove of Sommers in front of the mound.

The Tigers inched closer in the top of the eighth off Cole Winn. The table was set with a one-out double to right by McKinstry. He came around to score thanks to a single up the middle by Ben Malgeri, who entered as a defensive replacement for Outman in center in the bottom of the sixth.

The Rangers scored one more run late in the game off reliever Kyle Finnegan. In the bottom of the eighth, Carter hit a two-out solo shot to center on a 2–2 pitch for his seventh blast of the season.

What Went Right for the Rangers

The home runs by Diaz and Smith stand out in Thursday’s box score, but credit is also due to Jung. He reached base three times with two singles and a walk. Additionally, he scored one of the Rangers’ ten runs. Jung finished the 2025 season with 30 multi-hit games. With his two singles on Thursday, he has already matched that total in 2026 and is batting .298 with 75 games remaining in the regular season.

What Went Wrong for the Rangers

Things were going smoothly for the Rangers until the fifth inning. The leadoff homer by Keith disrupted Eovaldi’s rhythm. He had struck out eight up to that point. They added on later in the frame with Lee’s home run. The RBI single in the eighth by Malgeri created another small problem, but the Rangers worked around it.

Eovaldi Tosses Five

Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi improved to 9–7, matching the AL lead in wins this year. He matched his season-high with nine strikeouts for the third consecutive start. His final line was 5.0+ IP, 6 H, 3 R-ER, 1 BB, 9 K, 2 HR, 85 pitches/53 strikes. Thursday was his shortest start by innings pitched since April 18 against the Seattle Mariners (also five frames) and fewest pitches thrown since April 13 against the Athletics, when he threw 84 pitches. Eovaldi retired the first nine batters he faced and turned in four hitless frames to begin his start, facing one over the minimum during the span.

Valdez’ Evening

Tigers starter Framber Valdez shouldered the loss to fall to 4–6, pitching five innings while giving up five runs, all earned, on nine hits, two walks, and one strikeout. He allowed runners early and often, surrendering five hits and two walks in the first two innings. He escaped a jam in the first but was punished in the second, allowing three runs that included the solo bomb by Díaz. Valdez was tagged for two more runs in the fourth. He tossed an eight-pitch perfect fifth to end his outing on a high note. Valdez has surrendered four runs in seven of his 18 starts this year as his ERA sits at 4.29.

Thursday’s start was his eighth and shortest start at Globe Life Field. He surrendered five or more for the first time ever in Arlington and fell to 5–2 in that ballpark.

Schumaker’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker discussed what he saw from his offense Thursday evening. “I can’t say enough about our hitting coaches putting together some really good game plans,” he said. “Offensively, one time, two times, three times through the order and you think about some different ways to attack the starters. (Framber) Valdez is a really good starter, and we knew we had to be patient depending on what the situation called for. These guys put together some really good at-bats. I’ve talked so much about (Nicky) Lopez and (Elias) Diaz has been insane, not only behind the plate but on the offensive side. That has been so huge for us.”