Padres beat Rangers 3-1 to win series – NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

Jurickson Profar hit his 12th home run and the All-Star left fielder also struck out a runner at the plate as the San Diego Padres defeated the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Thursday.

Profar had two hits, scoring both times against three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer (1-2), who was making just his third start of the season since undergoing offseason back surgery and his rehab was interrupted by thumb pain and a nerve problem. Profar hit a single in the fourth inning to score, then hit a home run in the sixth to take a 2-0 lead.

Rangers rookie left fielder Wyatt Langford prevented runs with two brilliant defensive performances and also scored the team’s only score with an RBI single.

Padres starter Michael King (7-5) had five strikeouts and allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings. Robert Suarez, the third Padres relief pitcher, avoided a leadoff walk by Langford in the ninth inning for his 22nd save in 23 chances.

Scherzer allowed three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings, with three strikeouts and one walk.

San Diego (48-43) has won 11 of its last 14 games, including two of three to win the series against the defending World Series champions. Texas has a 17-31 record since May 10, two days before losing first place in the AL West, and is 39-48, its season low of nine games under .500.

Profar, the former Ranger who was voted an All-Star starter on Wednesday, preserved San Diego’s 1-0 lead in the second half of the fourth inning when he struck out Adolis García, who was trying to score on a two-out single to left by Leody Taveras.

After Profar scored on a double by Donovan Solano in the fourth inning, the Padres’ designated hitter was thrown out by Langford’s one-hop hit to catcher Andrew Knizner at the plate, which marked the last out after David Peralta’s single.

Langford, the fourth overall pick in the draft last July, ended the Padres’ second inning with a leaping, long-stretching catch against the 8-foot wall in left to snatch what appeared to be a home run from Ha-Seong Kim. Scherzer pumped his right arm emphatically after the catch as he came off the mound.

TRAINING ROOM

Rangers: RHP Josh Sborz (right rotator cuff strain) struck out two players while throwing just 12 pitches in 1 1/3 innings in his seventh rehab appearance since June 16, averaging 93.6 mph with his fastball. Manager Bruce Bochy said, without elaborating, that the reliever will be back soon. … RHP Tyler Mahle, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery in May 2020, is scheduled to make his second rehab appearance for Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday. … RHP Grant Anderson was recalled from Round Rock and infielder Davis Wendzel was sent back to Triple-A.

NEXT

Padres: Back home to open a three-game series against Arizona on Friday night.

Rangers: RHP Michael Lorenzen (4-4, 3.40 ERA) pitches in the opener of another home series against Tampa Bay.