Aranda hits 3-run homer in the 10th to give Rays a 6-3 win over the Rangers

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jonathan Aranda hit a three-run home run in the 10th inning to give the Tampa Bay Rays a 6-3 victory over the Texas Rangers on Saturday night.

Tampa Bay (85-57) has won two straight after losing the opener of the four-game series and has the best record in the American League at 85-57.

The Rangers (70-73) trail Houston by three games in the AL West race and Cleveland and Toronto by two games in the race for the league's final wild card. They're the first team since the 2011 New York Yankees — and the fourth in a 162-game season — to reach September never leading and never trailing by more than three games.

Taylor Walls opened the 10th with a sacrifice bunt off Rangers closer Jacob Latz (3-2), working his second inning, that advanced automatic runner Jorge Mateo to third base. Latz then intentionally walked Yandy Díaz before Aranda homered into the home bullpen beyond right field. It was Latz's first loss since April 10.

Tampa Bay’s Tyler Wells (4-2) pitched two scoreless innings to earn the victory.

Junior Caminero hit a solo homer in the first and Richie Palacios added a solo shot in the fifth to give the Rays a 2-0 lead. Caminero’s shot in the first was his AL-leading 38th of the season. Palacios hit his career-high eighth in the fifth; it was his second in two games and third in the last four.

Both Tampa Bay homers were hit off Rangers starter Jacob deGrom, who gave up four hits in six innings while striking out seven and walking one. DeGrom has allowed a major league-high 10 homers in first innings this season. He has a 9.00 ERA in 27 first innings this year and 2.79 ERA after that.

Liam Hicks knocked in Aranda in the eighth on Tampa Bay’s third consecutive two-out single.

Rays starter Drew Rasmussen allowed one run on three hits in seven innings while gunning for his eighth consecutive win.

Joc Pederson hit his team-high 25th homer for Texas in the sixth inning. The Rangers tied the score at 3 in the eighth off Kevin Kelly on Evan Carter’s leadoff homer and Justin Foscue’s liner to left center that got between Chandler Simpson and Cedric Mullins and scored pinch-runner Cam Cauley.

Rangers LHP MacKenzie Gore (8-10, 4.31 ERA) will start Sunday afternoon against Rays LHP Ian Seymour (9-6, 4.21).

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Texas Rangers pitcher Jacob deGrom throws to the Tampa Bay Rays during the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Texas Rangers' Joc Pederson rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Drew Rasmussen throws to the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tampa Bay Rays' Junior Caminero follows through on a solo home run swing as Texas Rangers catcher Danny Jansen and umpire Will Little look on in the first inning of a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Tampa Bay Rays' Jonathan Aranda celebrates his three-run home run during the 10th inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

DENVER (AP) — Players from St. Louis and Colorado tilted their caps Saturday night in apparent protest of umpire Doug Eddings one day after he instructed Cardinals rookie pitcher Hancel Rincon to straighten his hat.

Eddings' comments prompted an argument with St. Louis manager Oliver Marmol that led to Marmol's ejection.

Most of the Cardinals' players had their hats tilted during pregame warmups, and many continued to tilt them in the dugout during the game. Some even tilted their batting helmets to celebrate reaching base. At least some Colorado players also wore their caps to the side before the game.

Rincon, a 24-year-old from the Dominican Republic, made his major league debut in relief in the sixth inning Friday night and wore his cap with the brim pointing to the left. He straightened his cap at Eddings' urging and got Hunter Goodman to fly out before TJ Rumfield tripled and scored on a wild pitch and Cole Carrigg hit an inside-the-park home run.

Rincon allowed another single before being replaced by Justin Bruihl. Marmol then came out of the dugout to confront Eddings and was ejected during Colorado’s five-run inning.

“I had an issue with Doug,” Marmol told reporters after the game. “Just Doug. He took it upon himself to tell our rookie pitcher the kid’s ‘not going to wear his hat on my field that way.’ You got Dontrelle Willis, CC Sabathia, Pedro Strop -- plenty of guys that have worn it way more tilted. I have an issue with that. That’s just a power-hungry move, in my opinion.”

Eddings told reporters postgame that he confronted Rincon after a Colorado hitter complained. Goodman was the only hitter to face Rincon at the time of the warning, and the catcher told MLB.com on Saturday that he did not complain to Eddings.

Eddings and Rincon spoke briefly on the field on Saturday night, and Eddings appeared to apologize.

St. Louis rallied to win 7-6 on Friday after Ivan Herrera's three-run homer in the ninth inning.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

St. Louis Cardinals right fielder Jordan Walker warms up before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol, right, argues after he was ejected from the game by home plate umpire Doug Eddings in the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies Friday, Sept. 4, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals relief pitcher Hancel Rincon emerges from the clubhouse to take part in practice before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies infielder Vimael Machin, right, talks with St. Louis Cardinals bullpen catcher Kleininger Teran, left, before a baseball game Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

St. Louis Cardinals left fielder José Fermín warms up before a baseball game against the Colorado Rockies, Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)