Aranda Homers in 10th as Rays Beat Rangers

Jonathan Aranda smashed a three-run homer in the 10th to lift the Tampa Bay Rays past the Texas Rangers 6-3 on Saturday night in Arlington, per Sportsnet and Field Level Media.

Tampa Bay improved to 85-57, still the best record in the American League, and answered Friday's series-opening loss with an extra-inning punch.

Tenth-inning script

Taylor Walls opened the 10th with a sacrifice bunt off Rangers closer Jacob Latz (3-2), who was working a second inning, and pushed automatic runner Jorge Mateo to third. Latz intentionally walked Yandy Díaz. Aranda then drove a 3-2 pitch into the home bullpen beyond right field for the go-ahead blast. It was Latz's first loss since April 10.

Tyler Wells (4-2) threw two scoreless innings for the win. That is the clean kind of bullpen length you want when a September series swings on one swing in extras.

Earlier, Junior Caminero launched a solo shot in the first for his American League-leading 38th homer. Richie Palacios added a solo blast in the fifth, a career-high eighth, and his second in two games. Both early Tampa Bay homers came off Jacob deGrom, who allowed four hits over six innings with seven strikeouts and one walk.

Rasmussen length, Rangers rally, AL race

Drew Rasmussen gave Tampa Bay seven innings of one-run ball on three hits while chasing an eighth straight win. Liam Hicks knocked in Aranda in the eighth on the Rays' third straight two-out single to make it 3-1 before Texas answered.

Joc Pederson hit his team-high 25th homer in the sixth. The Rangers tied it 3-3 in the eighth off Kevin Kelly on Evan Carter's leadoff homer and Justin Foscue's liner that scored pinch-runner Cam Cauley. That set the stage for Aranda's three-run dagger two innings later.

Texas sits 70-73, three games behind Houston in the AL West and two behind Cleveland and Toronto for the last wild card. The Rays just keep stacking wins. For more September board already on Smacktok, see Schwarber's Phillies win and Edman's Dodgers rally. Saturday in Arlington belonged to Aranda's 10th-inning swing.