by Jerry Feitelberg

To paraphrase the great Charles Dickens ” It was the best of times for one team and the worst of times for the other.” For the Oakland A’s, it was the best of times as they routed the visiting Texas Rangers by a score of 10-0. They had it all going for them Wednesday night as they had good hitting, good pitching and good defense. They pounded out 14 hits, scored 10 runs and third baseman Brett Lawrie made a tremendous defensive play at third base to stop a ball from going down the left field line for a double and first baseman Mark Canha made a nice pick when the throw from Lawrie was slightly offline. A’s starter and winning pitcher, Scott Kazmir was on his game as he went seven innings allowing just one hit while striking out ten. For the Texas Rangers, it was the worst of times. Their starter, Ross Detiler, making his first start since July, 2013 gave up 8 runs on 9 hits and was gone after 4 1/3rd innings of work. The Ranger defense did not help Detwiler one bit. The Rangers committed four errors and  a passed ball  that led to 3 unearned runs. Kazmir allowed just one hit and the other came in the ninth when Prince Fielder doubled off reliever R.J. Alvarez.

The only noise the A’s made in the first two innings was a two out double by Brett Lawrie. Lawrie had a tough night in Tuesday’s game as he struck out four times on 12 pitches but he hit a line shot to left center but was thrown out at third trying to stretch  it into a triple. In the bottom of the third, the A’s sent nine men to the plate and scored five runs on five hits. Marcus Semien singled with one out to get things going. That was followed by Tyler Ladendorf’s first Major League hit in his first at bat in the big leagues. It was a line shot to left center and with his speed, he made it to third easily. Craig Gentry was hit by a pitch to put two men on. Cody Ross, in his first at bat as an Athletic singled to drive in Ladendorf. A’s DH, Billy Butler walked to load the bases. First baseman, Mark Canha, blasted a shot to deep right centerfield that hit the top of the wall driving in all three runners.Canha stopped at second and A’s manager Bob Melvin asked the umpires to review the play . After the review, it was ruled a double, Canha just  missed a grand slam by about an inch and it was his first Major League hit. A’s lead 5-0 after three innings of play.

The AS’s scored one run in the fourth, two in the fifth and one run each in the sixth and seventh innings. That was the end of the scoring for the night as the A’s win 10-0.

Game notes. Mark Canha led the attack with two doubles and a single while driving in four runs. Brett Lawrie had three hits, Billy Butler and Marcus  Semien each had two hits. Cody Ross, signed by the A’s on Wednesday after being released by the Arizona Diamondbacks had a single and two RBIs in his A’s debut.

The A’s have started the season 2-1 for the first time since 2010. The A’s tripled in the each of the first three games for the first time since at least 1914. Scott Kazmir recorded 10 strikeouts for the 23rd time in his career and is 4-1 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts in the last 2 years against the Rangers. Mark Canha was 3 for 5 with 4 RBIs. The only Athletic to do better was Ben Grieve in his debut in 1997 when he drove in five runs in his first Major League game. The only players from last year’s A’s team were Craig Gentry and Scott Kazmir. All the other players are in their first year with Oakland.

After the game, A’s manager, Bob Melvin, was all smiles as his team really played well. He was pleased with Kazmir’s performance and was extremely happy about Mark Canha’s performance.

The Rangers are 1-2 for the first time since 2010.They committed 4 errors since April 30th, 2014 when they committed 4, also against the A’s  Delino Deshields made his Major League debut for the Rangers and had his first Major League hit.

The fourth game of the series will be Thursday afternoon at 12:35pm at the O.Co Coliseum. Kendall Graveman will be making his A’s debut and he will be opposed by the Rangers’ Nick Martinez.

Game time was 2 hours and 55 minutes and was watched by 19,479 very happy A’s fans.