Travis Jankowski's ultimate home-run robbery saves Texas Rangers

The left fielder, in the game as a defensive replacement, makes a leaping catch of a would-be walk-off homer by Andrew Vaughn.

The game was all but over as Andrew Vaughn’s deep flyball to left field was headed over the wall at Guaranteed Rate Field.

As Travis Jankowski went back toward the wall, it looked like he was doing so out of courtesy to Chafin, who was about to suffer walk-off loss to the worst team in baseball.

“Off the bat, it was like, ‘Well, I screwed this one up,’ ” left-hander Andrew Chafin told reporters in Chicago.

Jankowski, though, leaped at the wall, stretched out his left arm and brought back Vaughn’s bid for a walk-off three-run homer, and the Texas Rangers escaped with a 4-3 victory and a doubleheader sweep of the White Sox.

Gary Matthews Jr.’s 2005 grab might have been more spectacular, but Jankowski’s catch, considering the circumstances, might rate as the best in club history.

“You couldn’t have a bigger moment,” manager Bruce Bochy said. “It saved the game.”

The Rangers improved to 6-0 this season against the White Sox and will go for a three-game series sweep Wednesday afternoon with Nathan Eovaldi on the mound. The Rangers won the first game of the doubleheader 3-1.

Game 2 was tied at 3 with two outs in the top of the ninth, and Leody Taveras singled and stole second base. After Marcus Semien walked, Corey Seager’s blooper to center field fell in, and Taveras scored the go-ahead run.

Two of the first three White Sox hitters reached in the bottom half against Chafin, who was closing because Kirby Yates and David Robertson pitched in the first game. Vaughn hit a slider that was low but over the middle of the plate.

Fans were ready to celebrate. White Sox relievers were, too, in their bullpen, where everyone expected the ball to land. Jankowski, though, stunned everyone, and after Chafin issued a walk to load the bases, Grant Anderson recorded the final out for his first career save.

But Jankowski, in the game as a defensive replacement for Wyatt Langford, somehow saved the game.

“That’s all instincts, really,” he said. “Being in there, being able to contribute and bringing back a home run was a highlight of my day.”

It was the highlight of the day across baseball and perhaps the Rangers’ top highlight of 2024.

Jeff Wilson, jwilson@alldlls.com