Bradford extends quality stretch to set up Leody's walk-off heroics

ARLINGTON -- Leody Taveras and Adolis García shared a big embrace on the infield dirt at Globe Life Field. The ball off Taveras’ bat ricocheted off the mound and dribbled into the infield, driving in the game-winning run.

Wins are wins. And with where the Rangers are in the standings, they’ll take the wins however they can get them. So when Taveras secured the most recent win with a bases-loaded, walk-off single for a 3-2 victory over the A’s on Saturday night, they were all excited as ever.

It was the first walk-off of Taveras’ career, as he became the first nine-hole hitter to record a walk-off hit for Texas since Delino DeShields on April 20, 2017 against the Royals.

“It felt very good,” Taveras said. “I’m too blessed honestly. That's impressive how that feels. I hope I can keep doing that. … I love this guy [García]. When you have a moment like this and you see somebody you love, you're trying to express the love and the feeling in that moment.”

It was also the Rangers’ seventh walk-off win of the season. That’s the club’s most in any campaign at Globe Life Field (opened in 2020) and its most in Arlington since 2019 (9).

Taveras ensured the game had a happy ending, but the real story was another quality start for Rangers starter Cody Bradford, who gave up just two runs across seven innings against the A's. He struck out a season-high tying eight Oakland hitters with no walks. He’s now recorded a quality start in each of his last four outings.

“I enjoy when he’s pitching because it feels like [you’re playing on the] PlayStation,” Taveras said with a laugh. “His command is crazy.”

Bradford was the Rangers’ best starter when he landed on the injured list on April 11. He’s been the best since he returned around the Trade Deadline as well. The young lefty entered Saturday's game with a 2.49 ERA in eight starts this season. He allowed five runs in two innings of relief against the Cardinals, which has inflated his overall season ERA.

Bradford had a 1.40 ERA in three starts before landing on the injured list with nagging back/rib issues that lasted months longer than expected. Besides that one rough relief outing against the Cardinals, he’s looked as good as ever in his return.

“I think it's just a culmination of being prepared and just trusting my stuff,” Bradford said of his season. “Again, like, I know I might kind of beat it to death, but I don't throw the hardest. I've got to execute. To be honest, it kind of surprises me sometimes when there's continued success with my execution. It’s just proved, I guess, to myself that I can trust my stuff. Today was an example of that.”

Bradford is now 4-2 with a 2.50 ERA and 50 strikeouts to just seven walks in nine starts this season, joining Cliff Lee in 2010 as the only pitchers in franchise history to record 50-plus strikeouts and seven or fewer walks over their first nine starts to a campaign.

The list of left-handed pitchers in the Modern Era with an ERA 2.50 or lower, 50+ strikeouts, and seven or fewer walks over their first nine starts in a season: Bradford in 2024, Hyun Jin Ryu in 2019 and Clayton Kershaw in 2016.

Manager Bruce Bochy and pitching coach Mike Maddux have both praised Bradford’s preparation and focus on the mound. He’s calm as ever all the time, just looking to give the Rangers a chance to win every time he steps onto the field.

He’s done that and more this season.

“To be honest, I don't like the word pride,” Bradford said. “But it's an honor to pitch in this organization again, for the hometown team. I'm going to work my butt off to prepare and give this team the best chance to win. I want to cover my innings. I want to serve the team well and cover innings and save the guys in the bullpen.

“Lately, it's been coming together. You don't know when that stretch will end. Baseball is a crazy sport, and so you don't want to get too high, and you don't want to get too low. But if I can do my job well and pitch into the fifth, sixth or seventh inning, I can live with those results.”