Shin-Soo Choo got the Cincinnati Reds started with a home run on the first pitch of the game Saturday night.
Devin Mesoraco's two-run homer in the 11th inning gave the Reds a 6-4 victory over the AL West-leading Texas Rangers.
The Reds can forget about that defensive debacle in between, three errors in the third inning that led to three unearned runs for Texas and likely took a victory away from starter Mike Leake.
"We made a bunch of mistakes, but they kept fighting and fighting, and that's all that matters that we got a win," manager Dusty Baker said. "I looked up there and they had one hit and three runs -- that's rare to see that. Usually Joey (Votto) doesn't make errors, Zack (Cozart) doesn't make errors. It's one of those nights."
The Reds and Rangers both played their 81st game, reaching the midpoint of the regular season. Texas (47-34) has a half-game lead over Oakland while Cincinnati (46-35) is is in third place in the NL Central, a season-high 4½ games behind division-leading Pittsburgh.
J.J. Hoover (1-5) got the last two outs in the 10th, even after a walk and a hit. Aroldis Chapman worked the 11th for his 20th save in 23 chances.
With runners at first and third for Texas in the 10th, Adrian Beltre had an inning-ending foul pop caught by catcher Mesoraco.
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The Rangers had only one hit before consecutive doubles by Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz to start the sixth for a 4-all tie.
Texas rookie right-hander Nick Tepesch struck out seven, but was gone after allowing three consecutive hits to start the fifth.
