Wyatt Langford's grand slam lifts Rangers over Yankees - ESPN
ARLINGTON, Texas — Wyatt Langford hit a game-ending grand slam off All-Star closer Clay Holmes to give the Texas Rangers a 7-4 victory over the New York Yankees on Tuesday night, dropping them out of the American League East lead.
Langford hit the first walk-off slam by a Rangers rookie, sending Holmes (2-5) to his major league-high 11th blown save in 40 chances. Texas overcame a 4-1, eighth-inning deficit.
«I think everyone likes those moments,» said Langford, the first Rangers player with three walk-off hits in a season since Josh Hamilton in 2011. «I think you like them even more if you're able to come through. So, it's really cool to be able to come through.»
According to ESPN Stats & Information research, Langford, a bright spot in a tough season for Texas, is just the second player in major league history to hit for a cycle, pull off an inside-the-park home run, and blast a walk-off grand slam in the same season. Jackie Robinson did the same in 1948.
Carson Kelly had a one-out single in the ninth, and Josh Smith and Marcus Semien followed with walks as Holmes threw only 12 of 25 pitches for strikes.
«There's been times I thought I've gotten beat honestly,» Holmes said. «Tonight was one of those I didn't throw very well, and wasn't very good at all and didn't deserve to come out on top there the way I was throwing.»
Langford pulled a full-count slider 407 feet to left field for his 10th homer this season.
«He's been coming up in those big spots and coming through for us,» Kelly said. «Definitely awesome to see.»
New York (80-59) fell half a game behind Baltimore (81-59) for the division lead and the best record in the American League. The Yankees have lost five of their last seven games.
When Yankees manager Aaron