by Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s played a game Tuesday night that was extremely ugly and not typical of a team trying to make the playoffs. The A’s were terrible on defense as they committed two costly errors and their pitchers threw 3 wild pitches in the game. They looked like they were sleepwalking through the game and it resulted in a 6-3 loss to the Texas Rangers. The Rangers have the worst record in baseball but they looked like world beaters defeating the A’s. Scott Kazmir started for the A’s and he was not sharp at all and took his ninth loss of the year. The Rangers’ starter, Nick Tepesch, came into the game with a 4-10 record, picked up his fifth win of the year. The Rangers, with nothing to lose, played well and took advantage of the A’s miscues and ran the bases relentlessly.

Texas drew first blood in the top of the fourth inning. Ryan Rua led off the inning with a single.

With one out, the Rangers’ Designated Hitter, Jake Smolinski, sent the ball over the left center field fence to give the Rangers the lead. For Smolinski, it was his first home run of the year. The Rangers

added another run after Rougned Odor beat out an infield single then scored when Daniel Robertson

hit a high chopper that went over Brandon Moss’ glove for a single. Reddick throw out Robertson at second trying to stretch the hit into a double but that allowed Odor to score from third base on the play.

Rangers are ahead 3-0 in the middle of the fourth inning. The A’s got back into the game when the scored twice to trail 3-2. Adam Dunn doubled with one out to get things going. Walks to Brandon Moss and Jed Lowrie loaded the bases. Josh Reddick hit a ball to deep center that allowed Dunn to score.

Derek Norris singled to drive in Moss and when the Ranger shortstop threw the ball past the first baseman Lowrie and Norris advanced to third and second but Eric Sogard ground out to end the inning.

The Rangers scored two unearned runs in fifth inning. With one out, Adrian Beltre doubled down the

left field line. Ryan Rua hit a sharp ground ball to A’s shortstop Jed Lowrie. Lowrie’s throw sailed way over the head of first baseman Brandon Moss . The play was ruled a single and an error. Beltre scored and Rua went to second on the play. Ranger catcher Robinson Chirinos singled to drive in Rua. A’s manager Bob Melvin took Kazmir out of the game and replaced him with Ryan Cook. Rua advanced to second on a wild pitch and then scored on a single by Odor. Texas leads a 6-2 as the A’s bat in the bottom of the fifth.

In the bottom of the sixth, Brandon Moss hit a solo home run to deep right field that was absolutely crushed. A’s trail 6-3 after six complete. There was no more scoring in the game and the A’s fall to the Rangers 6-3.

Game notes: The A’s are 7-14 for their last 21 games and 10-21 in their last 31. The A’s were fortunate as the Kansas City Royals also lost so they maintain their one game lead over the Royal for the first Wild Card spot. Seattle beat the Angels and they are just one game behind the Royals for the second Wild Card. There were a few highlights for the A’s tonight. Josh Donaldson was 2 for 4 with a double

and Brandon Moss hit his 25th home run of the year. The last A’s player to have two consecutive 25 homers in a year was Jack Cust. Josh Reddick was 1 for 3 with a triple.

The Rangers won their fourth game in a row and it was the first time they did it since April 15 to April 19th this year.

A’s manager Bob Melvin was not a happy camper with the play of his team Tuesday night. He thought they would be ready as they had won two games in a row at Seattle. Melvin said that while he was disappointed with the way the A’s played, he would come to the park Wednesday and be optimistic about the team’s chances of getting back on the winning track.

In other news, Jed Lowrie has been named the A’s nominee for the 2014 Clemente Award presented by Chevrolet. Beginning Wednesday, Fans can vote on ChevyBaseball.com for the National recipient and register for a chance to win a trip to the 2014 World Series.

Game two of the three game series will be Wednesday night at 7:05pm. Jeff Samardzija will pitch for Oakland while Derek Holland will go for the Rangers.

Attendance was 19,835