ARLINGTON, Texas – It was all excitement at Globe Life Field on opening day as the defending World Series Champions, the Texas Rangers defeated the Chicago Cubs 4-3 in extra innings.
Rangers fans were all smiles as the team unveiled their new World Series banner and won in true dramatic fashion with a walk-off single to right center field by Jonah Heim.
Chicago got on the board first with a sacrifice fly to center field that sent Cubs Designated Hitter Christopher Morel in for the score.
It wasn’t until the bottom of the fourth inning that the Rangers were able to get on the board, also getting their first score off a sacrifice flyball that sent third baseman Josh Jung to the plate.
Adolis García and Travis Jankowski homered for the Rangers, and Wyatt Langford, the fourth overall pick in last summer’s amateur draft, hit a tying sacrifice fly in the fourth.
In the top of the ninth inning, the Cubs took the lead on a controversial call at the plate.
Cubs first baseman Michael Busch scored from second base on what the umpire charged as a wild pitch.
Heim thought it was a foul tip and didn’t immediately retrieve the ball.
On slow-motion replays, the ball appeared to tip the bat. However, that particular play wasn’t subject to video review.
Heim, however, made up for the miscue with the game-winning single in the tenth inning.
“The big thing is, he put it behind him and got that big hit,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said.
Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, the winner in World Series Game 5 at Arizona last Nov. 1, allowed two runs over six innings in the opener.
Newly signed veteran reliever pitcher David Robertson pitched in the 10th inning and got the win.
Rangers face the Cubs again on Saturday, March 30, at Globe Life Field.
First pitch is set for 6:05 p.m.
Travis Tyler