Pence’s pinch-hit slam lifts Rangers over Bucs

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

In a game full of monster shots, Hunter Pence hit the biggest home run of all.

Pence hit a pinch-hit grand slam and the Texas Rangers rallied late, beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 9-6 Wednesday.

The Rangers trailed 6-2 before three walks by reliever Michael Feliz loaded the bases for Pence. He sent the first pitch off the foul pole in left field to tie it.

The 36-year-old hit just four home runs in all of 2018, and was signed to a minor league contract in February.

But his power stroke might be returning. Pence hit a home run and a pair of doubles in the first game of the series on Tuesday before equaling his 2018 total with his fourth homer of the season Wednesday.

“Trust my approach and hit it. That was all I was focused on,” Pence said.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa doubled off Tyler Lyons (1-1) and an offline throw allowed Nomar Mazara to score the go-ahead run in the ninth. Rougned Odor followed with a two-run homer.

Ariel Jurado (1-1) worked the eighth and got the ball to Chris Martin, who earned his first save of the season and first since 2015.

Joey Gallo gave Texas the early lead with a two-run shot that bounced off the concourse beyond the right-center field wall and landed in the Allegheny River. The estimated 443-foot drive was Gallo’s 100th career home run in his 377th game, making him the fastest player to 100 homers in American League history. He also became the first player in major league history to hit 100 home runs before reaching 100 singles (he has 93).

Josh Bell’s estimated 472-foot drive tied the game in the Pittsburgh fourth and was the fourth ever to reach the river on a fly. It was his ninth home run of the season after hitting 12 in 2018.

Gregory Polanco drove two with a single in the Pirates sixth. Kevin Newman stole second and scored on two errors ahead of Colin Moran’s pinch-hit home run in the seventh.

Texas starter Shelby Miller struck out six over his four innings, and allowed only the Bell homer.

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