Wyatt Langford hits 3-run homer as Rangers win 4-3 to end 6-series losing streak against Padres

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Wyatt Langford hit a three-run homer, Josh Jung had a go-ahead RBI single and the Texas Rangers beat San Diego 4-3 on Sunday to end a six-series losing streak against the Padres.

The Rangers preserved a one-run lead over the final five innings a day after failing to hold a two-run lead late in a 6-4 loss in 10 innings. The series clincher was just the fourth victory for Texas in its past 20 meetings with San Diego.

Nathan Eovaldi sparkled for five of his six innings after the Texas right-hander's start was pushed back a day because of left knee soreness.

The fourth inning was a different story. Eovaldi allowed six hits and three runs right after Langford's three-run shot, which was the leadoff hitter's sixth homer of the season.

Eovaldi (7-7) struck out a season-high nine, eight of those coming while he allowed just one hit and a walk in his other five innings.

Peyton Gray pitched a perfect seventh, and rookie Robby Ahlstrom walked Manny Machado before getting pinch-hitter Miguel Andujar to ground into an inning-ending double play in the eighth.

Jakob Junis allowed singles to pinch-hitter Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts to start the ninth before finishing for his fifth save. Closer Jacob Latz had pitched in the first two games of the series.

Gavin Sheets and Bogaerts had run-scoring singles to go with Sung-Mun Song's RBI double to get the Padres even. Sheets was thrown out at home on Bogaerts' hit, which scored Machado.

Nicky Lopez, Langford and Jung had three consecutive singles to put Texas back in front in the bottom of the fourth against Lucas Giolito (2-3), who allowed all four Texas runs after entering in the second inning.

Padres RHP Grant Holmes (4-3, 4.33 ERA) is set for the series opener at home against Atlanta on Monday. Rangers RHP Kumar Rocker (2-6, 4.17) is scheduled to open the series at Miami on Monday.

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

San Diego Padres' Xander Bogaerts (2) celebrates in the dugout after scoring during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi (17) delivers the pitch during a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka, left, tags out San Diego Padres' Gavin Sheets (30) at the plate during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford (36) celebrates at home plate with Kyle Higashioka, right, and Josh Jung, back left, after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

CORONADO, Calif. (AP) — Corey Heim, a part-time driver making only his 13th start in the Cup Series, outdueled teammate Tyler Reddick to win the inaugural NASCAR race at Naval Base Coronado.

Heim, who will move into a full-time ride next season at 23XI Racing, snatched the lead from Reddick with two laps remaining after stalking the points leader around the 16-turn, 3.4-mile street course on Coronado Island, just south of downtown San Diego.

It’s the second time in three years that an inaugural street race has produced a first-time winner in NASCAR’s premier series. Shane van Gisbergen won his Cup debut in the 2023 Chicago Street Race.

Bubba Wallace finished 10.365 seconds behind Heim in a 1-2 finish for 23XI Racing, the team co-owned by Denny Hamlin and NBA legend Michael Jordan. Reddick suffered a flat tire in the closing laps and fell to 25th.

Kyle Larson finished third, followed by Zane Smith and AJ Allmendinger.

Hamlin, the driver-owner who had won the past three races for Joe Gibbs Racing, finished 14th.

Van Gisbergen finished 38th in his bid for an eighth road or street course victory (which will make him the active leader among Cup drivers).

After starting from the pole position, van Gisbergen was caught in a crash that started when Trackhouse Racing teammate Connor Zilisch and Austin Hill collided while battling for the lead on a Lap 32 restart. The nine-car incident caused a nine-minute red flag for wall repairs.

“I felt like I was giving Austin space, and the next thing, I was in the wall,” said Zilisch, who led the first eight laps of his Cup career in the highlight of a miserable rookie season. “Really unfortunate. I hate to end both days for both Shane and I. We had a really fast car today. I had a lot of fun. I really enjoyed just getting to race out front and lead laps.”

During the first caution, Christopher Bell was replaced in the No. 20 Toyota by Brent Crews, but the driver relief stint was short. Crews exited in last place after a gearbox problem on the 28th lap.

Bell is still recovering from a broken wrist in a June 7 crash at Michigan International Speedway and said getting out of the car was precautionary and not because of pain.

In his second and last Cup start of the 2026 season, Jimmie Johnson slammed a tire barrier after missing a chicane on the fifth lap and finished 28th.

The seven-time series champion said Saturday that he still plans on the 2027 Daytona 500 as his final start as a Cup driver, but he is open to racing in other series.

NASCAR will stay in California, heading north to Sonoma Raceway on June 28. Van Gisbergen dominated in winning on the road course last season, leading 97 of 110 laps from the pole position.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Connor Zilisch (88) and Ryan Preece (60) go around Turn 2 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Cars race past the USS Carl Vinson during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)

Shane Van Gisbergen (97) and Bubba Wallace (23) come out of Turn 2 during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race, Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Coronado, Calif. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy)