Brandon Nimmo had three RBIs, including two that gave Texas the lead in the crucial four-run sixth inning, helping the visiting Rangers come from behind to beat the Atlanta Braves 7-6 on Saturday.
Nimmo went 2-for-5 to lead the Rangers’ 12-hit attack and secure a bounce-back win after Friday’s 15-1 loss. The victory evened the series between the two division leaders at one game apiece.
Texas batted around in the sixth inning to take a 7-5 lead. Evan Carter hit a two-run homer, his eighth, off reliever Tyler Kinley (5-4), to tie the game. Nimmo finished the rally with a two-run bases-loaded single against Dylan Lee.
Texas starter MacKenzie Gore (6-8) pitched 5 2/3 innings and allowed five runs on six hits, one walk and three hit batsmen. He struck out seven.
Jacob Latz got the final four outs to earn his 19th save.
Atlanta starter Owen Murphy lasted only 2 2/3 innings in his first major league start. He allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks, striking out two.
Former Brave Joc Pederson wasted no time getting the Rangers on the scoreboard. He hit the fourth pitch of the game into the right field stands for a 419-foot home run. It was his 16th homer and the fourth leadoff homer.
The Braves scored four times in the second inning. Eli White hit a two-run homer, his fifth, Drake Baldwin singled in a run and Ozzie Albies drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.
Texas narrowed the lead to 4-3 with two runs in the third inning. Kyle Higashioka reached on a fielding error by left fielder Mauricio Dubon and scored on Wyatt Langford’s single. Nimmo then added an RBI single. Texas loaded the bases, but reliever Dylan Dodd kept them from scoring further when White made a long sliding catch near the right-field line.
Atlanta got one run back in the bottom half when Michael Harris II hit a solo homer, his 17th.
The Braves got a run in the seventh when Harris singled and scored on Dubon’s double.
