Josh Jung homered and Jonah Heim snuffed out a rally in the ninth inning as Texas beat Baltimore 3-2 on Saturday to open their Major League Baseball second-round playoff series.
The visiting Rangers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five American League matchup with game two against the Orioles on Sunday in Baltimore.
Other series openers Saturday find Minnesota at Houston in the AL plus Philadelphia at Atlanta and Arizona at the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League.
The Rangers and Orioles are making their first playoff appearances since 2016, both having rebuilt after losing more than 100 games two seasons ago.
Orioles starting pitcher Kyle Bradish struck out nine batters over 4 2/3 innings but also allowed seven hits and two runs.
Rangers outfielders Adolis Garcia and Evan Carter hit back-to-back doubles in the fourth to open the scoring and catcher Heim followed with a single to drive in Carter and put Texas ahead 2-0.
Nathaniel Lowe and Leody Taveras singled to load the bases but Marcus Semien struck out to end the inning.
The Orioles replied in the fourth when Anthony Santander walked and scored on Ryan Mountcastle's double to left field.
Baltimore brought on relief pitcher Jacob Webb in the sixth and rookie Jung homered off him to centerfield to give Texas a 3-1 edge.
Santander answered again for the Orioles with a solo homer in the sixth.
Baltimore put the tying run in scoring position in the eighth when Austin Hays walked, took second on a wild pitch by Texas reliever Aroldis Chapman and, after a walk to Adley Rutschman, took third when Santander grounded into a double play.
But Chapman then struck out Mountcastle to end the threat.
In the ninth, Texas brought in relief pitcher Jose Leclerc to close out the game and he surrendered a single to Gunnar Henderson.
But Henderson was thrown out by Heim trying to steal second base, Aaron Hicks struck out and Adam Frazier grounded out to third to end the game.
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