The Texas Rangers returned from the All-Star break with a sweep, while the Frisco RoughRiders and FC Dallas also continued their seasons over the weekend.
Here is what happened on the field and behind the scenes.
MLB
Texas Rangers (55-39, first in American League Central)
Last Games: Rangers 12, Cleveland Guardians 4; Rangers 2, Guardians 0; Rangers 6, Guardians 5
Texas swept Cleveland in a three-game series over the weekend.
The Rangers’ offense returned to its high-powered ways with a 12-run performance on Friday, scoring nine runs between the seventh and eighth innings.
Andrew Heaney had perhaps his best outing of the year, and the bullpen continued his momentum in a shutout victory on Saturday, while Nathaniel Lowe, Adolis Garcia, and Josh Jung helped mount a late rally to finish the deal on Sunday.
Noteworthy: Texas leads the AL West by three games over the Houston Astros.
— The Rangers have shut out their opponents seven times this season, tied for the fifth-most in the American League.
— Saturday was Texas’ third win without a hit with runners in scoring position (RISP) this season.
— On Saturday, the Rangers placed reliever Josh Sborz on the 15-day injured list and recalled John King from Triple-A Round Rock.
— Dane Dunning will start the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday. Texas is 1-2 against the Rays this season.
Next Up: Tampa Bay Rays (60-36) at Rangers, 7:05 p.m. CT Monday
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MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL
Frisco RoughRiders (38-45, fifth in Texas League South Division, eighth in AA Texas League)
Last Games: RoughRiders 8, Amarillo Sod Poodles 3; Sod Poodles 11, RoughRiders 4; Sod Poodles 8, RoughRiders 0
Frisco loses two of three in a rare minor league three-game series after a four-day break.
The RoughRiders led the entire game in an 8-3 win on Friday but allowed 19 runs over the final two games as Amarillo blasted six home runs. Frisco scored three runs in the sixth inning on Saturday yet managed just three hits in Sunday’s finale.
Noteworthy: Frisco is now 7-8 in the second half, trailing Amarillo and Midland by three games in the South Division. The division winners of each half of the season earn postseason berths.
— Infielders Thomas Saggese and Luisangel Acuna had double-digit hitting streaks snapped.
–Catcher Josh Hatcher is hitting .355 with two home runs and 13 RBIs in July.
— Pitcher Jack Leiter has been placed on the Development List. Minor leaguers can be placed on the list to train and develop at the Major League club’s spring training complex.
Next Up: San Antonio Missions (43-41) at RoughRiders, 7:05 p.m. CT
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MLS
FC Dallas (8-9-6, eighth in Western Conference)
Last Game: FC Dallas 1, Seattle Sounders 1
FC Dallas pulled out a tie as Bernard Kamungo scored in the 42nd minute. Seattle took a 1-0 lead on a mistake by Dallas’ Sam Junqua as he got a foot on a Seattle pass but knocked it into the net. Seattle had chances to win in stoppage time yet could not convert as the game ended in a draw.
Noteworthy: FC Dallas is winless in three consecutive matches and has just two wins since the beginning of June.
— FC Dallas was without leading scorer Jesus Ferreira, who just finished playing for the United States in the CONCACAF Gold Cup.
— Kamungo has three goals this season.
Next Up: Charlotte FC (6-9-8) at FC Dallas, 8 p.m. CT Friday (2023 Leagues Cup, Group Stage)
