Elias Diaz did not need the loudest swing in Texas' six-run fifth to own the box score. The Rangers catcher went 3-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored Saturday night at Chase Field, and his single through the middle of that inning helped turn a tied game into a runaway frame in a 6-2 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Per ESPN's box score, Diaz led Texas with three hits. ESPN's box matches that line. Around him, Wyatt Langford homered to open the fifth and Ezequiel Duran singled home two to close it, the Associated Press reported, after a disputed call kept the inning alive.
Three hits, one rally
Arizona scored first when Tim Tawa came in on a Pavin Smith single. Langford answered with his 17th homer. After Corey Seager was ruled safe at first on a challenge Arizona lost, Jake Burger scored on Diaz's single to make it 2-1. Diaz then scored himself when Josh Jung singled.
Brandon Nimmo doubled and Duran singled, and suddenly the Rangers led 6-1. Diaz had already done his damage: an RBI, a run, and the hit that forced Arizona to keep pitching with traffic on. A 3-for-4 night from the catcher spot also meant he was on base repeatedly in a game Texas needed for wild-card math.
A patched-together pitching win
Kumar Rocker started and worked four innings with one run allowed and five strikeouts. Nathan Eovaldi, activated from the injured list, threw 2 2/3 relief innings and allowed one run in his first relief appearance since 2019, the AP noted. Robert Garcia and Jacob Latz filled the rest.
