Rangers Shut Down Orioles Behind Leiter's Solid Outing

Texas pitcher strikes out 8 over 6 innings as Rangers win 5-2 in series opener

Mar. 31, 2026 at 2:25am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting depicting a baseball game between the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles, with sharp, overlapping geometric planes in vibrant colors representing the energy and dynamics of the competition.The Rangers' pitching staff stifles the Orioles' offense in a cubist-inspired illustration of their series-opening victory.Baltimore Today

Jack Leiter pitched six solid innings with eight strikeouts, and Jake Burger drove in a pair of runs as the Texas Rangers defeated the host Baltimore Orioles 5-2 in the series opener on Monday night. The Rangers' bullpen completed the combined seven-hitter, with Gunnar Henderson's solo home run and RBI single providing the only runs for the Orioles.

Why it matters

The Rangers' win extends their winning streak to three games after an opening-day loss, while the Orioles have scored more than two runs in only one of their four games so far this season, highlighting their early offensive struggles.

The details

Leiter (1-0) allowed two runs on five hits and one walk in his first career appearance against the Orioles. The Rangers' bullpen of Jakob Junis, Jalen Beeks and Tyler Alexander allowed two singles without a walk. Burger and Evan Carter each had two hits for Texas, which stranded 12 runners on base. Henderson's homer in the first inning and RBI single in the fifth provided the Orioles' only runs, while starter Chris Bassitt took the loss after allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings in his Orioles debut.

  • The game was played on Monday, March 31, 2026.
  • It was the first of a three-game series between the Rangers and Orioles.

The players

Jack Leiter

The Texas Rangers pitcher who earned the win, allowing two runs on five hits with eight strikeouts over six innings.

Jake Burger

The Texas Rangers player who drove in a pair of runs in the game.

Gunnar Henderson

The Baltimore Orioles player who hit a solo home run and had an RBI single, providing both of the Orioles' runs.

Chris Bassitt

The Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher who took the loss, allowing four runs in 4 1/3 innings in his Orioles debut.

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What they’re saying

“It was a solid outing for us as a team. Leiter set the tone early and our bullpen did a great job closing it out.”

— Chris Woodward, Texas Rangers Manager

What’s next

The Rangers and Orioles will continue their three-game series on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The takeaway

The Rangers' pitching staff, led by Leiter's strong start, was able to limit the Orioles' offense, which has struggled to score runs consistently in the early part of the season. This win puts the Rangers in a good position to potentially sweep the series and continue their early-season momentum.