Joc Pederson's 2-run homer in the 6th lifts Rangers past the Orioles 2-1

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Joc Pederson hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning and Nathan Eovaldi and three relievers combined to limit Baltimore to one run as the Texas Rangers beat the Orioles 2-1 Friday night.

Pederson swung at the first pitch he saw from Shane Baz (4-11) and drove it 414 feet around the pole in right field, scoring Elias Diaz and giving the Rangers a lead they never relinquished. It was Pederson's 21st homer of the season and his eighth go-ahead homer of the year.

The Rangers were limited to three hits, one each from Pederson, Brandon Nimmo, and Díaz.

Eovaldi worked 5 1/3 innings and allowed one run on four hits while striking out two. Tyler Alexander (3-2) earned the win after allowing one hit in two-thirds of an inning. Jacob Latz worked two scoreless innings for his 22nd save.

The Orioles got a double from Leody Taveras and singles from Dylan Beavers, Coby Mayo, Colton Cowser, and Carlos Narváez.

Baz threw eight innings innings, giving up two runs on three hits while striking out nine.

Baltimore nearly tied the game with one out in the ninth, but Nimmo threw to Nicky Lopez from right. Lopez hit Díaz, who managed to tag Taveras on his sliding mitt at home. The call on the field was confirmed after a replay review.

The Rangers won their third straight game for the first time since the All-Star break and are 3-1 on their homestand.

The Orioles lost their second straight and for the fourth time in seven games.

Orioles RHP Kyle Bradish (7-10, 3.79 ERA) faces Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (7-7, 3.96) on Saturday.

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Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser runs as he looks at his soft grounder infield out during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager heads to the dugout after striking out swinging during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers pitcher Nathan Eovaldi throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Shane Baz throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers designated hitter Joc Pederson celebrates after his two-run home run that also scored Elias Díaz during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Kevin Gausman provided exactly what the Cubs hoped for when they acquired him from the Blue Jays last weekend, pitching seven sharp innings in his Chicago debut in a 6-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Friday night.

The 35-year-old right-hander gave up an RBI single to Isaac Collins in the first inning and Carter Jensen's homer in the fifth, but he otherwise held Kansas City in check. Gausman (6-10) retired 12 of 13 at one point and ended up allowing two runs on four hits and a walk.

Caleb Thielbar allowed a pair of runs in the eighth for the Cubs before Trent Thornton escaped the jam, getting Nick Loftin to fly out with the tying run on first base. Jacob Webb breezed through the ninth for his seventh save.

The Cubs gave Gausman the support he needed in the second, when Seiya Suzuki followed Pete Crow-Armstrong's RBI single with a two-run single of his own. Chicago wound up plating four runs off Daniel Lynch IV (4-3), who had pitched out of the bullpen all season but was getting the start for a Kansas City rotation waylaid by injuries.

Lynch only lasted 1 2/3 innings, striking out two and walking two, before Royals manager Matt Quatraro went to his bullpen.

Alex Bregman added an RBI single in the seventh for Chicago. Pedro Ramirez went deep in the eighth.

Gausman won his final start for Toronto last Saturday, allowing just one run while pitching into the sixth inning against St. Louis. But he had otherwise struggled the past few weeks, going 1-5 with a 5.17 ERA in his final seven starts for the Blue Jays.

RHP Clay Holmes (4-4, 2.39 ERA) makes his Cubs debut Saturday night following his trade from the Mets. It also will be his first start since May 15, when he fractured his right fibula on a sharp liner by the Yankees' Spencer Jones.

RHP Seth Lugo (4-7, 4.41) tries to bounce back from a dismal start against the Rockies when he takes the mound for Kansas City.

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

Chicago Cubs' Pedro Ramírez (75) runs home to score on a two-run single hit by Pete Crow-Armstrong during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago Cubs' Pete Crow-Armstrong steals second base during the second inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)

Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Kevin Gausman throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)