by Jerry Feitelberg

Baseball is a game that defies description. There are nights that pitchers perform well but end up taking a loss. Bloop singles can beat you while balls hit right on the nose end up in an outfielder’s glove for an out. The A’s starter, Jesse Chavez, has pitched  well this season. However, he entered the game with a record of 3-6. Chavez did his job, but the A’s offense failed to give him any run support. Tuesday night Jesse did not pitch well. He went five innings, allowed eight hits and was touched for five runs. Did he take the loss? No, he did not, he won. The A’s rallied in the top of the sixth from a three-run deficit to score four times to take the lead. The A’s bullpen shut the Rangers down as they recorded the last twelve outs of the game, and Oakland won 8-6. Chavez, since he was the pitcher of record when the A’s rallied to take the lead, won his fourth game of the year.

Chi Chi Rodriguez started for Texas, and Chavez was on the hill for the A’s. It was a matchup of a good-looking rookie pitcher going against a very good veteran. The Rangers struck first in the bottom of the second. Ranger shortstop Elvis Andrus doubled to start the inning. He advanced to third on a ground out and scored on a passed ball. A’s catcher Josh Phegley may have had a  chance to nail Andrus at home but Chavez forgot to  cover the plate. The A’s tied the game in the top of the third. Eric Sogard singled to drive in Marcus Semien with the run.

The A’s took a 2-1 lead in the top of the fifth when Phegley blasted his fourth home run of the year over the centerfield wall. The lead didn’t last long as the Rangers scored four times in the bottom of the fifth. With a man on first, Rangers’ second baseman Rougned Odor hit his second home run of the year into the right-field seats to give Texas a 3-2 lead. At this point in the game, Chavez was struggling with his location. The next batter, Joey Gallo, doubled. Prince Fielder also doubled but Gallo held up waiting to see if the ball was caught, and he had to stop at third. Adrian Beltre, in his first game back from the DL, hit a sacrifice fly allowing Gallo to score, and Fielder took third on the throw home. Andrus singled to drive in Fielder with the Rangers fifth run of the night. A’s trail 5-2 after five. Chavez pitch count reached 97 and his night was over.

This is where the game gets interesting. The A’s scored four times in the sixth to put them ahead 6-5 and since Chavez was the pitcher of record was in line to get credit for the win even though he left the game trailing 5-2. Ben Zobrist led off the inning with a walk and advanced to second when Billy Butler was hit by a pitch. Ike Davis doubled to right-center to drive in Zobrist and Josh Phegley followed with a double over the head of Ranger center fielder Leonys Martin to drive in Butler and Davis to tie the game at five. Ranger manager Jeff Bannister went to his bullpen and replaced Rodriguez with Keone Kela. Marcus Semien greeted him with a double to put the A’s ahead 6-5.

The A’s scored two more runs in the seventh. Eric Sogard walked and came home on Zobrist’s fifth home run of the year. The Rangers scored a run in their half of the inning. With two out Beltre reached on a Brett Lawrie throwing  Mitch Moreland singled to put men on at first and third. A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in righty Fernando Rodriguez to face Elvis Andrus. Andrus doubled driving in Beltre, but Moreland could not score as he was not running well and had to stop at third.Rodriguez retired the next hitter to end the inning.

Rodriguez started the eight and walked Chirinos with one out. Melvin brought in Drew Pomeranz to pitch. Pomeranz walked Odor to put runners on at first and second. Pomeranz struck out Joy Gallo for the second out and got Prince Fielder to ground out to end the inning. Pomeranz came out to pitch the ninth as A’s closer, Tyler Clippard, was no available. Beltre singled to start the frame but was erased when Pomeranz induced Moreland to ground into a 4-6-3 double play. Pomeranz struck out Elvis Andrus to end the game. Final score 8-6 in favor of Oakland.

Game Notes- The A’s have  won three straight and seven of their last nine. The A’s are now 32-41 for the year, and Texas falls to 37-34. Josh Phegley was the hitting star for the A’s with a home run, double and three RBI. Billy Burns had a hit in the game and extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games in a row.  Stephen Vogt did not play as he has a strained flexor tendon in his elbow. Vogt was available for pinch-hitting duties Tuesday and is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday.

The A’s resume the three-game series Wednesday night at the Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas at 5:05 PM PT.

Kendall Graveman will be on the hill for Oakland, and he will be opposed by the veteran lefty, Wandy Rodriguez.