by Jerry Feitelberg

The Texas Rangers won the second game of the four game series with the A’s by a score of 3-1 behind six strong innings of pitcher by former Athletic, Colby Lewis. Lewis went six innings allowing allowing one run and limiting the A’s to three hits. Jesse Hahn made his first start as an Athletic and pitched well but not well enough and took the loss. Hahn also went six innings giving up three runs and seven hits. After the game,A’s manager, Bob Melvin, though Hahn pitched well and seemed pleased with his performance. The game summary follows below.

The Rangers drew first blood in the top o the third. A’s starter, Jesse Hahn, hit Ranger second baseman, Rougned  Odor, with a pitch. Odor advanced to second when Leonys Martin hit a slow ground ball to shortstop Marcus Semien. Semien could not get the force at second as his only play was to get Martin at first. Hahn retired Elvis Andrus for the second out but Prince Fielder blooped a single to center that barely eluded the grasp of Semien. Odor scored to put the Rangers ahead 1-0 in the middle of the third.

The Rangers scored twice in the top of the fifth to take a 3-0 lead. Leonys Martin singled with one out to get things going. He advanced to third  on a single by Elvis Andrus. Martin and Andrus scored on a Prince Fielder single to right that got by Craig Gentry. Gentry was charged with an error as Fielder advanced to second on the play. Hahn retired Beltre and Choo to end the inning.

The A’s got on the board in the bottom of the sixth. With one out Sam Fuld lined a triple down the right field line. Eric Sogard ground out and that allowed Fuld to cross the plate with their first run of the game. A’s trail 3-1 after six. The A’s threatened in the bottom of the seventh. They had the bases loaded with one out but Marcus Semien ground into an inning ending double play. The Rangers bullpen shut the A’s down the rest of the way and both teams are now 1-1 to start the season.

Game notes- Sam Fuld went 2 for 4 and had a triple in the game Tuesday night. Fuld has tripled in back-to-back games for the second time in his career and is now 4 for 8 to start the season. The Rangers’ Colby Lewis is now 9-4 against Oakland and the nine wins are the most against any opponent.  Game three will be played Wednesday night at 7:05 pm at the O.co Coliseum. It will be a matchup of two left-handed pitchers. Scott Kazmir will go for Oakland and Ross Detwiler will o for Texas.

Temperature at game time was 54 degrees and the Attendance was 15,025.