Josh Jung hit a three-run homer off All-Star closer Mason Miller in the 10th inning, and the Texas Rangers won 6-4 against the Oakland Athletics on Sunday.
This was the Rangers’ second walk-off win in a row and their fifth in six home games since August 5.
“They keep fighting, so that’s what I have to say about them,” said Bruce Bochy, who tied Bucky Harris for eighth place on the manager wins list with his 2,158th win. “You get down two there (in) extra innings, you’ve got your hands full with one of the best closers in the game.”
Miller (1-2), who was the winning pitcher for the American League in the All-Star Game held in Texas this summer, pitched a scoreless ninth inning and got the first two outs in the 10th. However, Adolis García hit a 2-2 slider for an RBI single, and Wyatt Langford walked after fouling off four pitches.
Jung then hit a 101.7 mph fastball to the opposite side and just inside the right-field pole for his fifth homer.
Jung, who was playing in only his 28th game after missing 102 due to a fractured right wrist, wasn’t sure if the ball was going to make it out until it landed a few rows deep.
“It’s a positive thing, it puts things in the right direction,” said Jung, who was still upset about missing an earlier RBI opportunity.
“I went out there and started over-swinging again, felt like I just fixed that the other day. So being able to not lunge at 100 (mph) and be able to turn it around is big for me.”
Oakland had taken the lead in the 10th inning against Matt Festa (3-1), who struck out his first two batters before Seth Brown hit a go-ahead RBI triple and Zack Gelof followed with a double.
Miller, who had not pitched since Wednesday, threw 34 pitches in his 1 2/3 innings.
“That last at-bat of the game is a fastball up and in. Jung got the barrel to it and it goes out to right field,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. “So, you know, a tough way to lose. But we had the right guy on the mound and it just didn’t go our way today.”
