Rangers blow 3-run lead in 9th inning but recover to top Phillies 5-4 in the 10th

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Jake Burger and Corey Seager each homered and the Texas Rangers recovered from blowing a three-run lead in the ninth inning to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 5-4 in 10 innings on Saturday.

The Phillies nearly tied it again in the 10th.

Bryce Harper snapped an 0 for 8 start to the season with a broken-bat, two-out single to right off Tyler Alexander that made it 5-4. Alec Bohm popped up against Alexander, who earned the save, to end the game.

Wyatt Langford singled off Phillies closer Jhoan Duran to open the 10th that sent the automatic runner to third. Duran (0-1) uncorked a wild pitch that scored Brandon Nimmo and allowed an RBI single to Andrew McCutchen for a 5-3 lead.

Chris Martin (1-0) got one out in the ninth for the win.

The Phillies tied the game with three unearned runs in the ninth aided by Burger's second error of the game at first base.

With two outs, the Phillies put two runners on and chased reliever Robert Garcia. Martin's first pitch to former Ranger Adolis Garcia was popped into foul territory and dropped by Burger. Garcia took advantage of his second chance and ripped an RBI double to left. Brandon Marsh followed with a two-RBI single to right that tied the game at 3-all.

Seager hit a two-out solo homer in the first off Phillies starter Aaron Nola.

Burger homered for the second straight game, this one a two-run shot in third off the left field foul pole.

Jacob Latz was pressed into action when the Rangers scratched two-time Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom hours ahead of his scheduled start because of neck stiffness. deGrom will instead start Tuesday or Wednesday at Baltimore.

Latz tossed three-hit ball over four shutout innings.

The Phillies did get good news down on the farm.

Zack Wheeler, their ace who wasn’t pitched since August because of a blood clot found near his right shoulder and thoracic outlet surgery, threw 38 pitches over three shutout innings for Triple-A Lehigh Valley. He walked one and struck out three.

Phillies reliver Orion Kerkering (right hamstring) struck out one in a scoreless inning in his first rehab appearance in Triple-A.

The Rangers send MacKenzie Gore (5-15, 4.17 ERA) to the mound Sunday against Phillies LHP Jesús Luzardo (15-7, 3.92 ERA).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Philadelphia Phillies stating pitcher Aaron Nola delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Texas Rangers' Jake Burger, left, celebrates his two-run home run with Brandon Nimmo, right, during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Justin Crawford leaps to catch the fly ball by Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Texas Rangers' Jake Burger reacts to his two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

Texas Rangers' Jake Burger hits a two-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Aryna Sabalenka beat Coco Gauff in the Miami Open women’s singles final 6-2, 4-6, 6-3 on Saturday.

The world No. 1 overpowered fourth-ranked Gauff in the first and third sets with sizzling groundstroke winners and became the first player to accomplish the “Sunshine Double” — winning Indian Wells followed by Miami in the same season — since Iga Swiatek in 2022.

It was Sabalenka's second straight title at the Miami Open, Gauff's hometown tournament, and put her ahead of Gauff in their head-to-head record, 7-6.

“You’ve pushed me to be a better player,’’ Sabalenka said during the ceremony, before adding about the crowd, “You always bring a full stadium.’’

The match lasted 2 hours, 11 minutes and ended on Gauff getting broken for the fourth time with a wide backhand.

Gauff fought back to force the third set, but couldn’t maintain the momentum she appeared to get from the deafening crowd supporting her.

“It sucks not to come out with a better result but I had a lot of joy this week,’’ Gauff said to the crowd. “You guys brought energy every day this week.’’

Gauff’s off-and-on serve created seven double faults while Sabalenka registered none.

Sabalenka broke Gauff in the first game of the third set, helped by a Gauff double fault and an unforced error. On break point, Sabalenka crunched a backhand winner.

“I was disappointed about that first game of the third set up 30-0 with momentum,’’ Gauff said. “It was an important game to win in that moment.’’

The match was attended by Kai Trump, President Donald Trump’s granddaughter and a golfer at the University of Miami. She posted a photo with Sabalenka at the tournament on social media Friday.

Sabalenka, who got her 24th pro title, said before the match she was happy Gauff had found her best tennis in her home tournament at which she had never gotten past the fourth round.

AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Kai Trump, the granddaughter of President Donald Trump, watches the women's singles final between Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff, at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Coco Gauff returns to Aryna Sabalenka during the women's singles final at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka returns to Coco Gauff during the women's singles final at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka, left, and Coco Gauff embrace at the end of the women's singles final at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka kisses the trophy after winning the women's singles final at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Coco Gauff returns against Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, in the semifinals of the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

Aryna Sabalenka reacts after defeating Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during a semifinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Aryna Sabalenka reacts after winning the first set against Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during a semifinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Coco Gauff celebrates a point against Karolina Muchova, of the Czech Republic, in the semifinals of the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Jim Rassol)

Aryna Sabalenka serves to Elena Rybakina of Kazakhstan during a semifinal match at the Miami Open tennis tournament, Thursday, March 26, 2026, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)