Langford hits for cycle to help Rangers snap 6-game skid with 11-2 win over Orioles

BALTIMORE (AP) — Texas rookie Wyatt Langford became the first major leaguer to hit for the cycle this season, and the Rangers routed the Baltimore Orioles 11-2 on Sunday night to snap a six-game skid.

Derek Hill homered twice and Andrew Heaney (3-9) struck out 10 in seven innings for the Rangers, who had dropped the first three games of the series to fall nine games under .500. The defending World Series champions never trailed Sunday, scoring multiple runs in the second, fourth, fifth and eighth innings.

Langford tripled in the fourth, doubled in the fifth and singled in the sixth. Then the 22-year-old outfielder hit a drive down the left-field line in the eighth for a three-run homer to make it 11-2.

“I was trying to hit a home run,” Langford said. “It kind of speaks for itself.”

It was the first career four-hit game for Langford, who was drafted last year by the Rangers with the No. 4 overall pick and made a swift rise to the majors to make Texas’ opening-day roster this season.

Cole Irvin (6-5) allowed five runs in 3 2/3 innings for the AL East-leading Orioles. Irvin was impressive to begin the season but has failed to make it through five innings in three consecutive starts for a Baltimore staff that has lost Kyle Bradish, John Means and Tyler Wells to season-ending injuries.

Hill opened the scoring with a two-run homer in the second. The Orioles answered with Ryan O'Hearn's RBI single, but the Rangers extended their lead in the fourth when Nathaniel Lowe, Andrew Knizner and Josh Smith hit RBI singles.

Baltimore's Heston Kjerstad made it 5-2 with an RBI double. Langford then doubled home a run, Lowe hit an RBI single and Hill added a solo homer.

“We've got some ground to make up,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said. “Don't count this group out. I know we've had our struggles, our injuries.”

Orioles star Gunnar Henderson, who became the first player to commit to the All-Star Home Run Derby per an announcement during the game, struck out in all four plate appearances.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: Star shortstop Corey Seager did not play, a day after being hit on the left wrist by a pitch.

UP NEXT

Both teams are off Monday. Texas begins a three-game home series against San Diego on Tuesday night. Nathan Eovaldi (4-3) starts for the Rangers.

The Orioles are at AL West-leading Seattle on Tuesday night, with Grayson Rodriguez (9-3) on the mound.

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

Texas Rangers' Derek Hill celebrates after his home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Texas Rangers' Adolis García gestures at second base after he doubled during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford, right, celebrates his three-run home run with Adolis García (53) and Robbie Grossman, center, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. The three-run home run completed the cycle for Langford. The Rangers won 11-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Texas Rangers' Andrew Knizner (12) singles in a run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford waves to the stands after a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. Langford hit for the cycle and the Rangers won 11-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

The Baltimore Orioles and the Texas Rangers play during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Cole Irvin (19) walks back to the dugout after he was removed during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford, right, celebrates his three-run home run with Adolis García (53) and Robbie Grossman, center, during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. The three-run home run completed the cycle for Langford. The Rangers won 11-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford, right, slides to third base with a triple against Baltimore Orioles third baseman Jordan Westburg (11) and starting pitcher Cole Irvin, bottom, during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford hits a three-run home run during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. The three-run home run completed the cycle for Langford. The Rangers won 11-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford does an interview after a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. The Rangers won 11-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Texas Rangers' Wyatt Langford, right, celebrates after a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Sunday, June 30, 2024, in Baltimore. The Rangers won 11-2. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

BUENOS AIRES (AP) — Lionel Messi won't be in Argentina’s squad at the Olympics starting later this month in Paris.

Coach Javier Mascherano included four World Cup winners in the squad he announced Tuesday, including striker Julián Álvarez and defender Nicolás Otamendi.

The 37-year-old Messi, who has struggled with injuries this year, is now playing at the Copa America, aiming to defend the continental title he won in 2021. That victory served as a springboard for Argentina to lift the World Cup in 2022.

Messi won the gold medal at Beijing in 2008 in his only Olympic campaign.

The Olympic men’s soccer tournament is for under-23 teams, but three older players are allowed on each squad.

Mascherano, who won the Olympic gold medal as a player in 2004 and '08, will add goalkeeper Gerónimo Rulli, Otamendi and Álvarez to his squad after Copa America is finished.

Midfielder Claudio Echeverri, a recent signing for Manchester City from River Plate, will also join.

Argentina will play two friendlies in France before its Olympic soccer tournament opener against Morocco on July 24. Argentina and Morocco are in Group B along with Iraq and Ukraine.

AP Summer Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/2024-paris-olympic-games

Argentina's Lionel Messi looks on at the end of a Copa America Group A soccer match against Peru in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 29, 2024. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)