Photo credit: bdtonline.com

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s returned home Thursday to start a four-game series against their division rival Texas Rangers. The A’s lost four out of seven on the road trip and were hoping to reverse their fortunes at the expense of the Rangers. The A’s started lefty Brett Anderson, and Texas countered with righty Ariel Jurado. The A’s started well as they scored three runs in the first inning and it looked as if they were on their way to a victory. The Rangers’ Jurado composed himself after the dismal start and allowed the A’s just one hit in the next six innings. Brett Anderson pitched well for four innings. He met his Waterloo in the fifth when the Rangers scored five times and took the lead for good. The Rangers scored five more in the sixth and one in the seventh to win 11-3.

The A’s put three on the board in the bottom of the first. A’s leadoff hitter Marcus Semien started the rally with a double to left-center. Matt Chapman worked Rangers’ starter Ariel Jurado for a walk to put men on at second and first with no out. Matt Olson flew out to deep center. Semien tagged and went to third. Canha walked to load the bases. Ramon Laureano followed with a single to drive in Semien and Chapman. Canha went to third. A’s DH Khris Davis drove in Canha with a sac fly to right. The A’s owned an early 3-0 lead.

The Rangers plated five runs in the top of the fifth to take the lead 5-3. Three consecutive singles produced the Rangers first run of the game. Anderson retired Tim Fedorowicz for the first out. The next hitter Shin-Soo Choo singled to load the bases. Rangers’ left fielder Danna Santa doubled down the right-field line to drive in Cabrera and DeShields to tie the game. Choo stopped at third. Elvis Andrus hit a sac fly to right to drive in Choo with the fourth run of the inning. A’s manager Bob Melvin removed Anderson from the game and brought in Yusmeiro Petit to pitch. Petit gave up a single to former San Francisco Giant, Hunter Pence. Santana scored, and the Rangers lead 5-3 midway through the fifth.

The Rangers blew the game open in the top of the sixth. The big blow was Danny Santana’s first career grand slam. The Rangers scored a run earlier in the inning when A’s reliever Lou Trivino hit Logan Forsythe to start the inning, Trivino walked Cabrera. DeShields laid down a bunt for a hit to load the bases with no out. Trivino retired Fedorowicz for the first out. Lefty Wei-Chung Wang was now pitching for Oakland. Choo singled to drive in Forsythe and Santana followed with his big blast. Texas leads 10-3 after six.

The Rangers added a run in the seventh to end the scoring for the night.

Game Notes: With the win, the Texas Rangers improve to 52-51. The A’s drop to 58-46. Oakland remains in second place in the AL West. The A’s would be the number 2 Wild Card if the playoffs were to start today. They trail the Cleveland Indians by 2 1/2 games for the top Wild Card spot. The A’s are a 1/2 game ahead of the Tampa Bay Rays and one game ahead of the Red Sox in the race for the second Wild Card.

The Rangers’ Ariel Jurado was the winning pitcher. He is 6-6 for the season Brett Anderson went 4 2/3 innings and allowed seven hits and five runs. Anderson’s record drops to 9-6.

A’s relievers Lou Trivino, and Wei-Chung Wang had rough outings Thursday night. Trivino went 1/3 of an inning. He hit a batter, then walked a hitter, and gave up a single before being lifted from the game. His line was one hit and three runs. Wang went 1 2/3 innings and gave up four hits and three runs. He threw the pitch to Danny Santana that left the park for Santana’s first career grand slam. Santana finished the night with six RBIs.

The Rangers announced that their slugging first baseman Joey Gallo will be out for at least four weeks. Gallo will be having surgery to repair a broken hamate bone in his right hand.

Time of game was two hours and 45 minutes. 11,854 fans watched the A’s go down to defeat.

Up Next: The A’s will have to regroup Friday night. Players have to have short memories and remind themselves that each game is a new portrait. The A’s will send Daniel Mengden to the hill. Mengden is 5-1 for the year. He will be opposed by Lance Lynn. Lynn has a record of 12-6.