A few things overlooked in Thursday’s walk-off win against the Cubs.

Jose Leclerc got the first two outs of the ninth, then walked the next two batters. If he is going to be the closer, he can’t do that. And if he does that, he won’t be the closer for long. 

Travis Jankowski is the kind of unsung hero a team needs. He stepped when Adolis Garcia was injured during the World Series, going 2-for-4 with two RBIs in Game 4. Then, Thursday night, after the Rangers gave up the go-ahead run in the top of the ninth on a disappointing play that would crush lesser teams, Jankowski hit a leadoff pinch hit home run to tie the game 3-3, and allow the Rangers to win 4-3 in the tenth.

Wyatt Langford made his arrival known. He drove in the first Rangers run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth to tie the game at one apiece. He collected his first major league hit with an infield single in the sixth. And was intentionally walked in the bottom of the eighth. This, in his fourth major league plate appearance. Intentionally walked. 

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TODAY’S GAME