Rangers top Rays as Josh Smith scores winning run on wild pitch

Fox News Flash top sports headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com.

Aroldis Chapman's first win since being traded to Texas came after the hard-throwing Cuban unleashed the two fastest pitches of the Statcast era for the Rangers.

A 100 mph fastball from Pete Fairbanks sank the Tampa Bay Rays in the opener of a series matching AL division leaders.

Pinch-runner Josh Smith scored on Fairbanks' wild pitch with two outs in the ninth inning, giving the Rangers a 3-2 victory Monday night.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Texas Rangers Josh Smith (47) crosses home plate after scoring on a wild pitch by Tampa Bay Rays Pete Fairbanks, left, in the ninth inning of a baseball game, Monday, July 17, 2023, in Arlington, Texas.  (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Chapman (5-2), acquired from Kansas City in a trade late last month, threw a pair of 102.8 mph sinkers while striking out the side in the ninth.

The 35-year-old left-hander's first win with Texas came two days after his first save for the Rangers, when he threw the previous fastest Statcast pitch for the club at 102.5 mph in a 2-0 victory over Cleveland.

The longtime closer still isn't in that role for Texas — lefty Will Smith has it — but Chapman was manager Bruce Bochy's choice in the top of the ninth with the score tied.

"I said he would change this club, this bullpen, he’d make us a much better team," Bochy said. "And he’s done that."

All-Star rookie Josh Jung led off the bottom of the ninth with a double and was replaced by Smith, who went to third with two outs on Nathaniel Lowe's groundout. The 1-1 pitch from Fairbanks (0-3) to Mitch Garver, a 100.4 mph fastball, went past catcher Christian Bethancourt, allowing the speedy Smith to