Rangers lean on pitching, beat Phillies to earn sweep

Martin Perez allowed just one run over 5 2/3 innings and Josh Jung hit a solo home run as the Texas Rangers defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 2-1 in Arlington, Texas, on Sunday night to complete a three-game series sweep.

After scoring 27 runs in the first two games of the three-game set, Texas leaned on its pitching staff to earn its first season-opening sweep since 2011, when the Rangers took three games against the Boston Red Sox en route to a 6-0 start to the season.

Perez (1-0) scattered eight hits and three walks while striking out seven to earn the victory. Relievers Brock Burke and Jonathan Hernandez then combined to allow just one hit over 2 1/3 innings before Will Smith worked a 1-2-3 ninth for his first save of the season.

Smith joined the Rangers in large part to reunite with Bruce Bochy, who was manager of the Giants when Smith was in San Francisco from 2016-19. Smith had his best season as a reliever Bochy, being named an All-Star in 2019 while picking up 34 saves.

That was Bochy's last season as Giants manager, and he is currently in his first with Texas.

The Rangers jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when Jung homered in the second inning, but the Phillies evened it at 1-1 in the fourth when Nick Castellanos scored on a double-play grounder by Josh Harrison.

The Rangers went back ahead, 2-1, in the fifth inning on an RBI single by Marcus Semien that scored Mitch Garver. Texas' bullpen took care of the rest.

Philadelphia left-hander Bailey Falter (0-1) took the loss, allowing two runs on seven hits with no walks and three strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. Andrew Bellatti, Connor Brogdon and Gregory Soto allowed just one hit over the final 2 2/3 innings while fanning three.

Despite taking the loss, the Phillies outhit Texas 9-8. Trea Turned recorded two of those hits, including a double.