Brandon Lowe hits solo HR, RBI double as Rays beat Rangers 5-4

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Brandon Lowe hit a solo home run in the first inning and added an RBI double to help the Tampa Bay Rays beat the Texas Rangers 5-4 on Wednesday night.

Josh Lowe and Brandon Lowe hit back-to-back doubles and Yandy Díaz and Jonathan Aranda followed with consecutive singles before Jake Magnum’s two-run single with two out capped Tampa Bay’s four-run third inning and made it 5-0.

Shane Baz (5-3) gave up three runs in five innings and Pete Fairbanks pitched a one-run ninth for his 11th save of the season.

Kumar Rocker (1-4), who was activated from the 15-day injured list (shoulder) earlier Wednesday, gave up five runs in 3 1/3 innings.

Jonah Heim hit a two-run home run with two out in the fifth inning. Josh Smith followed with a single and scored on a double by Wyatt Langford. Corey Seager drew a four-pitch walk before Baz struck out Josh Jung — the potential go-ahead run.

Brandon Lowe hits solo HR, RBI double as Rays beat Rangers 5-4 | iNFOnews.ca — Tampa Bay Rays’ Josh Lowe, right, scores in front of Texas Rangers catcher Jonah Heim (28) on an RBI double by Brandon Lowe during the third inning of a baseball game Wednesday, June 4, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O’Meara)

Langford hurdled Rays first baseman Aranda to avoid being tagged and reached safely on a throwing error by shortstop José Caballero.

Tampa Bay won the series opener, the first of nine straight road games for the Rangers, 5-1 on Tuesday.

The Rangers have lost 11 of their last 15 games following a season-long six game win streak.

Key moment

Magnum hit a ground ball to first baseman Jake Burger that drove in Diaz and Aranda. Rocker was slow to cover first, which allowed Magnum to reach safely, and then held the ball as Aranda scored from second.