Memorable opener: Rangers celebrate 2023 championship, then beat Cubs in 10 innings

A record-setting Globe Life Field crowd.

A new set of gold-trimmed Texas Rangers uniforms.

A pregame ceremony to remember.

And most important, a season-opening extra-inning win.

The Texas Rangers began defense of their 2023 World Series championship on Thursday at Globe Life Field, beating the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, in 10 innings, when Jonah Heim delivered a game-winning bases-loaded single with two outs.

The largest regular-season crowd — 42,130 — in Globe Life’s short history four-year (plus one game) watched a tight game that the Rangers appeared to be headed to a loss in the ninth inning before they won their first opening-day extra-inning game since 1980.

Prior to the game, the Rangers unfurled their championship banner, which now hangs to the right of the giant right-field scoreboard. There was a small hitch in the unveiling, as the left side didn’t fall in unison with the right side, creating a wrinkle on the banner.

Extra-inning hero

With the game tied 3-3 in the bottom of the 10th, the Rangers scored the winning run when Heim delivered the two-out winning hit off Cubs reliever Drew Smyly.

The Rangers loaded the bases with one out. Ghost runner Marcus Semien started the inning on second base, Corey Seager bunted him to third base. Josh Jung and Adolis Garcia then walked to load the bases. Wyatt Langford then grounded to third, forcing Semien out at home. Heim then delivered the game-winning hit to right-center field.

Crazy ninth inning

The two teams traded runs in the ninth inning in very different ways. The Cubs snapped a 2-2 tie when Michael Busch scored from second base on a wild pitch by reliever Jose Leclerc. Busch rounded third and scored as catcher Heim appeared to argue with home plate umpire Chad Fairchild that the pitch had been fouled. Busch scampered hometo give the Cubs a 3-2 lead on a play that Heim was given a throwing error.

Both manager and player said after the game that Heim can’t let a play like that impact him or the Rangers.

“Obviously what happened can’t happen. ... Just finish the play and go on,” Heim said. “Thankfully, Travis came up and helped me out there, got my back. And a lot of great at-bats in the 10th inning there gave me an opportunity to try to put something in play.”

The lead didn’t last.

Pinch-hitter Travis Jankowski led off the Rangers’ ninth with a solo home run to right field to tie the game 3-3 and send the first game of the season into extra innings.

“The big thing is, he (Heim) put it behind him and got that big hit,” Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said.

Tied early

The two teams entered the late innings tied 2-2.

The Cubs scored first on Dansby Swanson’s sacrifice fly in the second inning, then rookie Wyatt Langford hit a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning to score Josh Jung to tie the game 1-1.

The Cubs went ahead in the top of the sixth when Cody Bellinger’s double scored Seiya Suzuki. The Rangers immediately responded in the bottom of the sixth when Adolis Garcia hit the club’s first home run of the season, a 407-foot drive.

Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi threw the first six innings, allowing two runs on four hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Chicago starter Justin Steele was equally effective, allowing just one run on three hits in 4.2 innings with six strikeouts. However, he left the game with hamstring tightness after fielding a Leody Taveras sacrifice bunt in the fifth.

David Robertson, one of the Rangers’ new bullpen faces this season, picked up the win in his Texas debut. He pitched a scoreless ninth. He was the fifth Rangers reliever in the game.

The two teams are off on Friday. They resume the three-game series on Saturday with a 6:05 p.m. start when the Rangers will receive their championship rings. Sunday’s series finale begins at 1:35 p.m.