Texas Rangers defeat Chicago Cubs in NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth showdown

The Texas Rangers kicked off their season in thrilling fashion with a 4-3 victory over the Chicago Cubs in extra innings on Thursday night. The reigning World Series champions started the game with a bang, unfurling their championship banner before a sellout crowd of 42,130 at Globe Life Field.

The game was a back-and-forth battle, with Adolis García and Travis Jankowski hitting home runs for the Rangers. Jankowski even tied the game in the ninth inning with a pinch-hit homer, setting the stage for the dramatic finish in extra innings.

In the 10th inning, with two outs and the bases loaded, Jonah Heim stepped up to the plate and delivered a game-ending RBI single, sending his teammates rushing onto the field in celebration. The walk-off hit sealed the victory for the Rangers in their season opener.

The game was not without controversy, as a disputed play in the ninth inning led to the Cubs taking the lead briefly. However, the Rangers rallied back and ultimately secured the win.

On the pitching front, Nathan Eovaldi, the hero of World Series Game 5, put in a solid performance, allowing only two runs over six innings. The Cubs’ left-hander Justin Steele also impressed with six strikeouts in his first career opening-day start before exiting the game with a left hamstring injury.

Overall, it was a thrilling start to the season for both teams, with the Rangers showing why they are the defending champions. The stage is now set for the rest of the season, with both teams looking to build on this exciting opening night performance.