Rangers defeat the opposition 12-11 in the game of the most pivotal plays in baseball, 6-4.

The Texas Rangers scored six runs while the Atlanta Braves scored four runs.

AJM calls it the most momentum-changing play in baseball. A two-out, three-run home run. So close to getting out of an inning with no – or no more – damage done only to see a crooked number posted to turn a game on its head.

The Braves didn’t even really need momentum in this series. With Travis d’Arnaud killing the ball, Atlanta secured the series and was going for a sweep tonight when the team’s early home run leader Marcell Ozuna came up in the bottom of the first inning with two on and two out and if you read the first paragraph, you know where this is headed. Ozuna hit a three-run bomb off of Rangers starter Michael Lorenzen to put Atlanta up 3-0 and put Texas even further on the backfoot.

The Rangers responded, finally, after an Evan Carter solo home run in the top of the fourth, Texas got two runs on with two outs for Andrew Knizner, in for a bereaved Jonah Heim. Knizner, who hadn’t done anything of note for Texas thus far, blasted a three-run home run to put Texas up 4-3 and completely alter the fate of this one.

In fact, as shown on the broadcast, the Braves up 3-0 were 80% likely to win the game. Knizner’s home run reduced that chance to 53%. By the time Adolis Garcia homered in the top of the 8th, the Rangers had overtaken Atlanta’s odds.

The victory wasn’t without a little heartburn in the bottom of the eighth, when Atlanta started a run-scoring rally that ended with Kirby Yates preventing another momentum shift by getting the final out with two runners on base.

After closing it out in the ninth, the Rangers made good on their comeback and salvaged the finale to finish this never-ending road trip at 5-5 and prevent themselves from falling below .500 for the first time in nearly 19 months

Player of the Game: We talked about the bats, but you have to like how Lorenzen handled his outing following the first inning home run. His line of 6.0 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 3 BB, 7 K was nice and needed for Texas as he ultimately ended up with a quality start in his second appearance with the Rangers.

Up Next: The Rangers get a well-earned day off tomorrow before beginning a homestand with their first check in on the Mariners in 2024. RHP Dane Dunning is expected to make the start for Texas in the opener opposite RHP Logan Gilbert for Seattle.