Starting Lineups:

Texas Rangers (16-18):

1) Evan Carter (L) CF

2) Corey Seager (L) SS

3) Josh Jung (R) 3B

4) Joc Pederson (L) DH

5) Ezequiel Durán (R) 2B

6) Jake Burger (R) 1B

7) Alejandro Osuna (L) LF

8) Danny Jansen (R) C

9) Andrew McCutchen (R) RF

Starting Pitcher: RHP Jacob deGrom (2-1, 2.01 ERA)

New York Yankees (24-11):

1) Trent Grisham (L) CF

2) Aaron Judge (R) RF

3) Cody Bellinger (L) LF

4) Jasson Domínguez (S) DH

5) Jazz Chisholm Jr. (L) 2B

6) Paul Goldschmidt (R) 1B

7) Austin Wells (L) C

8) Ryan McMahon (L) 3B

9) José Caballero (R) SS

Starting Pitcher: RHP Elmer Rodriguez (0-1, 4.50 ERA)

Yankees Stadium, The Bronx, NY — In the opening game between the New York Yankees and the Texas Rangers, New York won 7-4 thanks to an offense that is firing on all cylinders.

The Rangers would score early in the top of the first inning, grabbing three runs.

Evan Carter drew a lead-off walk in the top of the first inning, and Corey Seager drew a walk as well, to put two on, with no one out. Josh Jung singled to right field to load the bases. Joc Pederson would hit an RBI sac fly to deep center to put the Rangers ahead, 1-0.

Ezequiel Duran would keep the line moving with an RBI single to right field to put the Rangers up 2-0, with one out.

After Jake Burger grounded into a fielder’s choice, Alejandro Osuna would be hit by a pitch to reload the bases, and Jung would come in to score on a wild pitch to make it 3-0, Rangers.

The Yankees would respond in the bottom of the first.

Aaron Judge would hit a one-out double in the bottom of the first inning. One batter later, Cody Bellinger would bring in Judge with an RBI-double, making it 3-1 Rangers.

The Yankees would tie the game in the bottom of the second — thanks to the long ball.

Paul Goldschmidt hit a lead-off single to left field in the bottom of the second. Two batters later and after a lengthy at-bat, Ryan McMahon would tie the game with one swing of the bat, launching a ball to right field, making it 3-3.

The Yankees would take the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning thanks to a deep fly. Jazz Chisolm Jr clubbed a ball to deep right-center field to put New York ahead, 4-3.

The Yankees would tack on to the lead in the bottom of the seventh.

McMahon hit a single to left field, and Jose Caballero would bunt for a base hit to put two on with one out. Judge would be intentionally walked, and Bellinger would plate two, with a two-run double, putting New York up 6-3.

The Bronx Bombers would hit another bomb in the bottom of the eighth inning, with Goldschmidt putting one over in the right-field seats, making it 7-3, New York.

The Rangers would scratch across a run in the top of the ninth.

Duran would hit a triple, and then Jake Burger brought him home with an RBI ground out, making it 7-4 New York.

Aaron Judge – photo courtesy of AMNY

The Good: The Yankees tagged the Rangers’ starter Jacob deGrom for 2 home runs and scored 6 total runs off of deGrom, showing why they are one of the most dangerous offenses in baseball. Cody Bellinger was very productive at the plate — driving in 3 of the Yankees’ 7 runs.

The Bad/The Ugly: The Rangers were just 3-13 with runners in scoring position, much like their final game against the Tigers, they were unable to capitalize or get the big hit when they needed it most.

-Matt Koper

Founder of Koper’s Korner