Jonah Heim helped the Texas Rangers win the first game of the season. He hit a single in the 10th inning, scoring a run. Earlier, there was a controversial play where Heim didn’t catch a ball that was thought to be a foul tip, which allowed the Chicago Cubs to take the lead.
Texas Rangers Fans Cheer as World Series Champs
Heim fixed his mistake by hitting a line drive with two outs, helping Texas win 4-3 on Thursday night. This happened after the Rangers celebrated winning their first-ever World Series by unveiling their championship banner.
“The important thing is, he moved on from it and got a crucial hit,” said Rangers manager Bruce Bochy.
Adolis GarcÃa and Travis Jankowski hit home runs for the Rangers. Also, Wyatt Langford had a really good first game in the big leagues.
In the ninth inning, Jankowski hit a home run that tied the game, just after Chicago took the lead in the top of the inning.
The Texas Rangers won the World Series last year and played their first Opening Day as champions at Globe Life Field on Thursday night. They defeated the Houston Astros in the American League Championship Series and then surprised everyone by beating the Arizona Diamondbacks 4-1 in November to win the World Series.
Before Thursday’s game, Bochy told the players to remember to enjoy their win.
“Yeah, we need to prepare for the game, but this is a special moment,” he said. “Not only tonight, but also the next game when they receive their rings. Take your time to enjoy it because achieving this is really difficult.”
North Texas fans are really happy about the win. On Thursday afternoon, they pitched tents outside Globe Life Field, offering a variety of merchandise such as hats, shirts, necklaces, and beer koozies to celebrate their team’s World Series victory. Some even got there as early as 8 a.m. just to make sure they got a good spot on the grass for tailgating.
Laura Reta, who lives in Grapevine, has been tailgating at Rangers home openers for 15 years in a row. This year marks the third time she’s done it with her parents. She’s been a Rangers fan her whole life, and she says experiencing their World Series win was like a dream come true.
“There have been times when our team hasn’t done so well,” Reta mentioned. “But we still feel connected to them because of their teamwork and how they care about us, the fans. We love them just as they love us.”
The Rangers have played 53 season openers and won 25 of them. This is the second time they’ve played the Cubs in their first game of the season. Last time, in 2019, they lost to Chicago.
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Rangers fans are hopeful about the new season. They’re wondering if their team can make it back to the World Series and win it this time. The Rangers have been there before, in 2010 and 2011, but unfortunately, they lost both times.
If the Rangers win the World Series this year and then win it again next year, they would be the first team since the New York Yankees in 1998, 1999, and 2000 to win back-to-back championships.
Mike Lara, who lives in Arlington, won $8,000 by betting on the Rangers to win the World Series last year. He believes they can do it again, even though they’re missing some pitchers.
“If our team’s batting can hold up until our pitchers return in June or July, I believe we’ll have a good chance to get back on track.”
In the crowd of Rangers fans, there was one tent covered in Chicago Cubs stuff. Marissa Lopez, who’s from Dallas but originally from Chicago, was there with her family since 9:30 a.m.
The Chicago Cubs have been champions of the World Series on three occasions. Their last win ended a really long wait of 108 years without winning. It’s been almost eight years since they won their last one.
While Lopez chopped peppers and onions for hot dogs, her husband grilled nearby. She mentioned that she hadn’t faced any hostility from Rangers fans yet.
“It’s opening day, which is really exciting,” Lopez said. “The greatest thing is bringing our family, having a blast, and savoring the game.”
In 2023, Globe Life Field proudly displayed the team’s first-ever World Series Championship banner near the right field video board. The Rangers also got their hands on the Commissioner’s Trophy right there on the field.
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