Rangers strike early, run winning streak to 6 with 8-1 victory over struggling Braves

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Josh Smith hit a two-run home run, Wyatt Langford had a bases-clearing double and the surging Texas Rangers piled up eight runs in the first three innings in an 8-1 victory over the struggling Atlanta Braves on Sunday.

Josh Jung added a two-run single to help the Rangers sweep the three-game series. Rookie Jack Leiter (7-6) set a career high with 100 pitches and matched a career mark with seven strikeouts. He allowed a run on two hits and three walks over six innings.

Texas (56-50) has won six straight games, going six games over .500 for the first time since April 6. The Rangers are four games out of first place in the AL West, gaining seven games since July 8, and are a half-game out of a wild-card spot.

Atlanta starter Bryce Elder (4-7), who grew up about an hour’s drive northwest of Arlington in Decatur, gave up all eight runs.

The Braves (44-60) managed only four hits in dropping their fifth straight. Having played in the last seven postseasons, they’re 12 games out of a wild-card position.

Texas’ Corey Seager singled and walked to extend his on-base streak to 27 games, the majors’ longest current streak.

Leiter pitched with a 3-1 lead but runners at second and third with one out in the second after Sean Murphy’s RBI double, then retired Ozzie Albies and Nick Allen on weak contact.

The Rangers went 8-1 on their homestand following the All-Star break.

Both teams will play Monday night on the road. Braves RHP Spencer Strider (4-8, 3.72 ERA) will face 45-year-old Kansas City LHP Rich Hill (0-1, 1.80). Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (10-2, 2.28) will go against Los Angeles Angels RHP Jack Kochanowicz (3-9, 6.03).

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Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Bryce Elder walks to the dugout after being pulled in the third inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager backs away from an inside pitch in the third inning of a baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Atlanta Braves' Jurickson Profar (7) and Michael Harris II (23) chase after a bases-clearing double by Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jack Leiter throws to the Atlanta Braves in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers' Josh Smith rounds the bases after hitting a two-run home run against the Atlanta Braves in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, July 27, 2025, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A South Korean court sentenced former President Yoon Suk Yeol to five years in prison Friday in the first verdict from eight criminal trials over the martial law debacle that forced him out of office and other allegations.

Yoon was impeached, arrested and dismissed as president after his short-lived imposition of martial law in December 2024 triggered huge public protests calling for his ouster.

The most significant criminal charge against him alleges that his martial law enforcement amounted to a rebellion, and the independent counsel has requested the death sentence in the case that is to be decided in a ruling next month.

In Friday's case, the Seoul Central District Court sentenced Yoon for defying attempts to detain him, fabricating the martial law proclamation and sidestepping a legally mandated full Cabinet meeting.

Yoon has maintained he didn’t intend to place the country under military rule for an extended period, saying his decree was only meant to inform the people about the danger of the liberal-controlled parliament obstructing his agenda. But investigators have viewed Yoon’s decree as an attempt to bolster and prolong his rule, charging him with rebellion, abuse of power and other criminal offenses.

Judge Baek Dae-hyun said in the televised ruling that imposing “a grave punishment” was necessary because Yoon hasn’t shown remorse and has only repeated “hard-to-comprehend excuses.” The judge also restoring legal systems damaged by Yoon’s action was necessary.

Yoon, who can appeal the ruling, hasn’t immediately publicly responded to the ruling. But when the independent counsel demanded a 10-year prison term in the case, Yoon’s defense team accused them of being politically driven and lacking legal grounds to demand such “an excessive” sentence.

Prison sentences in the multiple, smaller trials Yoon faces would matter if he is spared the death penalty or life imprisonment at the rebellion trial.

Park SungBae, a lawyer who specializes in criminal law, said there is little chance the court would decide Yoon should face the death penalty in the rebellion case. He said the court will likely issue a life sentence or a sentence of 30 years or more in prison.

South Korea has maintained a de facto moratorium on executions since 1997 and courts rarely hand down death sentences. Park said the court would take into account that Yoon’s decree didn’t cause casualties and didn’t last long, although Yoon hasn’t shown genuine remorse for his action.

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol shouts slogans outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A supporter of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol waits for a bus carrying former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs as police officers stand guard outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs and flags outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Supporters of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol hold signs outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

A picture of former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is placed on a board as supporters gather outside Seoul Central District Court, in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)