Texas' shaky bullpen escapes late as Rangers hold off Orioles to open ALDS

Andrew Heaney and Dane Dunning helped Texas reach the sixth inning with a lead, and the Rangers' maligned bullpen held on through some anxious moments for a 3-2 victory over the Orioles in Game 1 of their AL Division Series on Saturday in Baltimore.

Josh Jung homered and made a nice play at third base to start a critical double play for Texas, which improved to 3-0 in these playoffs — all on the road.

After leading the AL West most of the season but squandering the division crown on the final weekend, the wild-card Rangers entered the post-season without Jacob deGrom and Max Scherzer and with a bullpen largely considered a weak link, but they've allowed only three runs in three games against the Orioles and Rays.

Heaney held Baltimore to a run and two hits in 3 2/3 innings. Dunning relieved him and went two innings for the win, allowing a run in the sixth. Will Smith, Josh Sborz, Aroldis Chapman and Jose Leclerc combined for the final 10 outs — but not without some drama.

Sborz threw seven straight balls to start the seventh but pitched around a leadoff walk. Chapman walked the first two batters in the eighth before Jung ranged to his left and snagged Anthony Santander's high bouncer on a short hop to start a 5-4-3 double play. Chapman then struck out Ryan Mountcastle with a runner on third to end the inning.

Leclerc earned the save, although he allowed a leadoff single in the ninth to Gunnar Henderson. All-star catcher Jonah Heim threw out Henderson trying to steal second, and the Orioles didn't manage another baserunner.

Baltimore manager Brandon Hyde didn't appear happy in the dugout with Henderson's decision to go.

LET'S HEAR IT FOR HEIM! <a