Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Sean Manaea (55) throws to the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game, Thursday, Sept. 28, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

By Jerry Feitelberg

Arlington, Texas- The Oakland A’s started the final four games of the season with a win over the Texas Rangers Thursday night as the beat the Rangers for the seventh time in a row by a score of 4-1.

The A’s Sean Manaea made his last start of the year and wanted to finish the season with a strong effort. Manaea had an up and down year. He spent time on the DL. He pitched well and at times didn’t pitch well. His record entering Thursday’s game was 11-10. He went six and 2/3rds innings and allowed just three hits. The only run allowed was unearned. Sean finished with a record of 12-10, and manager Bob Melvin had this to say about his young lefty:”He was efficient early in the game, early-count contact, pitched out of a couple jams,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “That’s finishing on a strong note for a guy that was really grinding toward the end. Had a couple bouts this season with adversity and pitched through it, and he will be better for it come next year.”

The game was scoreless until the fifth inning. The Rangers’ Miguel Gonzalez, who lost 1-0 to the A’s last week in Oakland was pitching well until the A’s third baseman Matt Chapman homered leading off the inning. It was Chapman’s fourteen of the season. The Rangers, however, tied the contest in the bottom of the fifth. Shortstop Marcus Semien made an error that allowed Willie Calhoun to reach second. It snapped the  A’seight-game errorless streak. Drew Robinson singled to drive in Calhoun with the run.

The A’s plated two in the sixth to take a 3-1 lead. With two out Jed Lowrie singled and that was followed by a Khris Davis double to put men on at second and third. Ryon Healy singled to drive in Lowrie and Davis. The A’s added a run in the ninth. Khris Davis singled, Healy reached on an infield single and Chapman drove in his second run of the game with a single. Oakland wins 4-1.

Game Notes- The A’s are now 16-5 in their last twenty-one games and are 35-35 in their last 70 games.

The A’s relievers did well against the Rangers Thursday night. Liam Hendriks got the final out of the seventh, Chris Hatcher pitched a scoreless eighth and Blake Treinen did the same in the ninth to preserve the win for Manaea and pick up his 15th save of the year.

A’s catcher Bruce Maxwell took a knee during the performance of the National Anthem. There were some boos as expected. Maxwell will continue to kneel until the end of the season.

Righty Raul Alcantara will start for Oakland Friday night and will be opposed by left Martin Perez.

The A’s announced that Bob Melvin has signed an extension to his contract that will take him through the 2019 season.