Rangers 3B Josh Jung activated from injured list; Cubs get second win over Rangers

CHICAGO (AP) — Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung was activated from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday after being sidelined because of neck spasms.

Jung batted seventh against the Chicago Cubs in his first appearance since leaving Texas’ win over Boston on March 28. He exited an exhibition game late last month because of neck stiffness, but started each of the first two regular-season games against Boston.

He left the Rangers’ 4-1 win over the Red Sox on March 28 after re-aggravating his neck issues on a big defensive play with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. He made a backhanded play on Alex Bregman’s chopper near the line and then a strong throw to first base for the out.

“The slug that he provides, his numbers against left-handers — which we struggle against,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “He makes us a much better team against left-handed pitching. But also, I think he’s a clutch hitter. He’s got a nose for an RBI. He’s another tough bat to get through and he can do damage for opposing pitchers.”

The Rangers entered Tuesday’s game leading the AL West at 8-3 despite a major league-worst .184 batting average. They managed just three hits in a 7-0 loss to Chicago on Monday.

The No. 8 overall pick in the 2019 amateur draft out of Texas Tech, Jung was the AL starter at third base in the All-Star Game during his rookie season in 2023 before he broke his left thumb on a fielding play at Miami that August. He returned to hit .308 (20 for 65) in the playoffs with three homers for the World Series champion Rangers.

Jung was hitting .412 with two homers and six RBIs in the first four games last season before his right wrist was fractured when hit by a pitch while swinging. He then missed 102 games before returning July 30. That was after he had been out most of spring training with a left calf strain.

Jung had surgery in February 2022 to repair a torn labrum in his left shoulder, a year after an operation to repair a stress fracture in his left foot. He made his big league debut playing the final 26 games of the 2022 season.

The Rangers also brought up right-hander Caleb Boushley from Triple-A Round Rock on Tuesday and optioned infielder Ezequiel Duran and right-hander Gerson Garabito to the minor league club. Left-hander Cody Bradford was transferred to the 60-day injured list because of a sprained left elbow.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Swanson hits tiebreaking single in 4-run eighth as the Cubs beat the Rangers 10-6

By ANDREW SELIGMAN AP Sports Writer

CHICAGO (AP) — Dansby Swanson lined a tiebreaking two-run single in Chicago’s four-run eighth inning, and the Cubs beat the Texas Rangers 10-6 on Tuesday on another frigid night.

The Cubs blew a 6-3 lead before taking advantage of two errors in the eighth and closing out their seventh win in eight games.

They had the bases loaded when Swanson singled to right against Chris Martin (0-1). Pete Crow-Armstrong added a two-run single against Hoby Milner on a 35-degree night.

Swanson homered leading off the second against Patrick Corbin. He also hit a sacrifice fly in a three-run fifth against Jacob Webb.

Seiya Suzuki and Pete Crow-Armstrong each had three hits and two RBIs. Jameson Taillon pitched six innings of three-run ball, and Porter Hodge (1-0) got four outs for the win.

Wyatt Langford homered for Texas. Josh Jung had three hits after being sidelined since March 28 because of neck spasms. But the Rangers lost their second in a row after winning five straight.

Corbin went four innings in his Texas debut, allowing three runs and five hits. The 35-year-old left-hander signed with the Rangers three weeks ago.

Key moment

Chicago’s Ian Happ reached on a two-base error leading off the eighth when Leody Taveras misjudged his fly to deep center. Martin intentionally walked Kyle Tucker with one out. The Cubs loaded the bases when third baseman Jung misplayed Jon Berti’s grounder before Swanson’s big single.

Key stat

The gametime temperature of 35 was only one degree warmer than the previous night, which was the coldest game at Wrigley Field since 2011. By comparison, it was 38 when the Blackhawks played the St. Louis Blues in the NHL Winter Classic on New Year’s Eve.

Up next

The three-game series wraps up on Wednesday. The Rangers are sending Tyler Mahle (1-0, 1.35 ERA) to the mound, and the Cubs are going with Shota Imanaga (2-0, 0.98 ERA). ___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb