Seager homers, Rangers beat Diamondbacks 7-6 for first road series win in 2 months

PHOENIX (AP) — Corey Seager homered for the fourth time in seven games, Jacob Latz stranded the potential tying run at second base in a shaky ninth inning and the Texas Rangers won their first road series in two months with a 7-6 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Sunday.

Seager, who had three RBIs, hit his 18th homer, a two-run drive off Eduardo Rodriguez (15-6) over the pool deck in right-center in the first inning. The Rangers took advantage of two Arizona errors to score three runs in the fifth.

Texas had lost eight straight road series before sweeping the final two games in the desert. The Rangers remained two games back of Cleveland for the final AL wild card spot.

Cal Quantrill (9-5) allowed two run and four hits in six-plus innings.

Latz entered with a 7-4 lead and gave up doubles to Nolan Arenado and Tim Tawa starting the ninth. He retired James McCann on a groundout and allowed an RBI double to Jordan Lawler, a drive off the wall in left-center. Tommy Troy struck out, Ketel Marte was intentionally walked and Gabriel Moreno popped out to Seager at shortstop. Latz has converted 29 of 32 save chances, including 24 of his last 25.

Arenado hit a three-run homer and Moreno had a solo shot.

Rodriguez escaped a bases-loaded jam in the fourth.

Justin Foscue reached Arenado's fifth-inning fielding error on a ball that hit something in the infield and caromed off his glove at third. Josh Jung followed with a run-scoring single and another run came in when left fielder Lars Nootbaar misplayed the ball. Brandon Nimmo's bloop RBI single put Texas up 5-1.

Rodriguez allowed six runs — three earned — and eight hits with seven strikeouts in 5 1/3 innings.

Rangers: Start a series Tuesday at Boston, which goes with LHP Patrick Sandoval (1-5, 4.58).

Diamondbacks: RHP Corbin Burnes (0-0, 0.00) makes his second start since returning from elbow surgery; he allowed two hits over three scoreless innings at Kansas City on Sept. 8. RHP Sandy Alcantara (13-10, 3.78) starts for the Marlins in Monday night's series opener.

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Texas Rangers' Josh Jung, right, makes contact off a pitch by Diamondbacks' Pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

Texas Rangers' Pitcher Cal Quantrill pitches during the third inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

Texas Rangers' first baseman Jake Burger (21) catches a throw from shortstop Corey Seager (5) to get the out on Arizona Diamondbacks' Lars Nootbaar during the third inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Caitlin O'Hara)

MANILA, Philippines (AP) — A predominantly Muslim region in the southern Philippines held its first parliamentary elections on Monday, seen as a crucial step in the long quest for self-rule after decades of insurgency and violence.

The Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao was set up under a 2014 peace deal that saw the largest Muslim rebel group give up the goal of a separate Muslim state in the south of the largely Catholic country in exchange for broader autonomy. The group’s 40,000 fighters promised to demobilize and join civilian life.

Since the 1970s, about 150,000 combatants and civilians have died in the southern Philippines, while development was stunted in the country’s poorest region. Western and Asian governments feared the tenacious insurgencies could help foster Islamic extremism in Southeast Asia. With bombing attacks and kidnappings, Mindanao used to be a haven for al-Qaida and the Islamic State group before a U.S.-backed Philippine offensive weakened the militants.

More than 20,000 soldiers and police forces were deployed for elections, while troops carrying long arms patrolled roadsides.

There are 80 seats at stake in the elections that will determine members of parliament. The region comprises five provinces, three cities and 63 villages with nearly 2.4 million voters. Election officials said they expected an 80% turnout after polling was postponed for several years.

The region's chief minister, who heads the executive branch, will be elected by parliament in its first session.

Commission on Elections Chairman Erwin Garcia told a news conference Sunday that the security situation has been peaceful, but warned those who will attempt to sow violence or buy votes that they will be charged.

“The elections stand on generations of Bangsamoro struggle for homeland, identity, and self-determination, in the face of dispossession, marginalization, conflict and sacrifice,” he said in an earlier statement.

In this photo taken with a smartphone, Army soldiers check the flow of vehical traffic along the highway in Marantao town, Lanao del Sur province, southern Philippines on Sunday Sept 13, 2026. (AP Photo/ Froilan Gallardo)

In this photo taken with a smartphone, Army soldiers check the flow of vehicular traffic along the highway in Marantao town, Lanao del Sur province, southern Philippines on Sunday Sept 13, 2026. (AP Photo/ Froilan Gallardo)