Down to last strike, Freeman sparks resilient Rangers to 6th straight W

PHOENIX – If the Rangers are going to return to the postseason in 2025, they’re going to have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable. They’ll face the toughest remaining schedule among all American League clubs and they’ll have to do it all without Marcus Semien, Nathan Eovaldi and likely Corey Seager.

But even this was a new one, and it started well before their thrilling 7-5 comeback win -- Texas' 6th straight victory -- over the D-backs in 10 innings on Monday night.

After boarding their flight to Phoenix from Sacramento on Sunday night, the club wound up having to exit the plane and return to their hotel. They got to bed at a reasonable hour but woke up Monday morning and flew in for an abbreviated pregame routine. Manager Bruce Bochy has been in the game for a while, but as the old adage goes, stick around long enough and you’ll see something you never have before.

“How well they have shown resilience through the tough times [has been impressive],” Bochy said. “Last night, I've never been through what they had to go through, but we got here. We didn't take batting practice. … Nobody was talking about it, nobody was complaining about it, and they came out and fought hard and had to scratch and claw to get back in it.”

The Rangers stormed back for the dramatic victory at Chase Field, scoring two runs in both the top of the ninth and 10th to win just their second game on the road this season while trailing entering the final frame (2-32).

The club now sits 1 1/2 games behind the Mariners for the third and final American League Wild Card spot by virtue of Seattle's loss to the Rays. Houston won, keeping the Rangers’ margin in the AL West at 4 1/2 with 23 to play.

While there were countless instances that could have flipped the pendulum in another direction, none were bigger than Cody Freeman’s at-bat in the top of the ninth. Down to their final out, the Rangers had their No. 24 prospect – who slugged his second Major League homer earlier in the game – in the box. Freeman battled to a 2-2 count and took a step out of the box as the crowd rose in anticipation.

“He wasn't gonna get me out. Simple as that,” Freeman said of D-backs pitcher Jake Woodford. “I love big moments like that. I love when the crowds going nuts, especially on the road. Give me that moment 20 times out of 20. I live for that moment.”

The result wasn’t glamorous – a 79.9 mph duck snort that landed softly into right field to tie the game – but it was effective. Freeman was so amped running out of the batter’s box that he initially stumbled heading down the first-base line. But once he got there, he let out a giant roar back toward the Texas dugout.

Freeman, a fourth-round pick in the 2019 Draft out of the Southern California high school ranks, has never been the can’t-miss prospect. He was a catcher through the 2023 season, while also getting reps all around the infield. But the Rangers always loved his athleticism and competitiveness, so much so that he was a two-time Arizona Fall League participant (2022, ‘24). When his breakout came this year, leading the Triple-A Pacific Coast League with a .336 average across 97 games, production married opportunity when injuries arose.

“He brings it every day, whether he's playing or not,” Bochy said of Freeman. “Energy, you love his enthusiasm – he's such a great teammate.”

Freeman, still buzzing from the hit postgame, was quick to point out Alejandro Osuna’s go-ahead two-run single in the 10th that gave the Rangers a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. The duo played every day in the Minors but have had to adjust to new roles in the big leagues, trading in live pitching for cage work.

If it looked like the 24-year-old showed a little extra juice on the field during the comeback win, it’s likely because he was on Cloud 9 from a pair of supporters seeing him in The Show for the first time – his maternal grandparents, David and Nancy Escobito. The duo traveled across the country to watch him display that all-out style as he climbed every step of the Rangers system.

“It's just the way I was growing up playing the game,” Freeman said. “I stood by two things: have fun and compete.”

Time will tell the final verdict of the 2025 Rangers’ season. But for now, it’s been no Seager, no Semien, no problem.