Langford’s Homer Lifts Rangers Over Rockies in Wake of Managerial Shakeup

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In a tense Monday night matchup, the Texas Rangers narrowly defeated the Colorado Rockies 2–1, powered by a sixth-inning home run from rookie Wyatt Langford. The homer, which broke up a no-hit bid, delivered a symbolic and literal turning point in the game—one that also marked the Rockies’ first contest under interim manager Warren Schaeffer, following the dismissal of longtime skipper Bud Black. Colorado entered the game amid turmoil, sporting a dismal 7–33 record and riding an eight-loss-in-nine-games streak. Despite the distractions, rookie right-hander Chase Dollander delivered the strongest outing of his young career. Making his seventh major league start, Dollander carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning, having retired 15 straight batters at one point. However, the momentum shifted dramatically after he issued a leadoff walk and, with two outs, surrendered a 412-foot blast into the Rangers’ bullpen by Langford. The two-run homer was Langford’s seventh of the season and proved to be Texas’s only hit of the game. Though the Rockies struck first with a run in the second inning—Hunter Goodman scored on a two-out single by Nick Martini—the offense was otherwise stifled by Rangers starter Tyler Mahle.

Mahle allowed just one run over 6 1/3 innings, striking out five and walking one, and earned his fourth win of the season. Despite entering the game with a stellar 1.47 ERA (second-best in the majors), Mahle had previously gone winless in his last five starts, largely due to lack of run support. The Rangers’ bullpen held firm in the late innings. Drama ensued in the ninth when closer Luke Jackson was struck on the hand by a 111-mph line drive, forcing him to exit after recording just one out. Reliever Jacob Webb stepped in and escaped a bases-loaded jam to earn his first career save. Langford’s clutch home run and the Rangers’ resilience provided a much-needed lift to a team fighting to stay competitive in the American League. Meanwhile, the Rockies fell to 7–34, extending a painful skid that underscores the uphill battle facing Schaeffer and the rest of Colorado’s rebuilding squad.