By Jerry Feitelberg
The A’s bounced back to beat the Texas Rangers 10-3 Tuesday evening at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. The A’s scored four runs on two two-run home runs. They scored a run in the fourth without the benefit of a hit. In the seventh, they scored five runs on just two singles and a double. Each team had eight hits, but the A’s scored ten times compared to Texas’ three.
A’s lefty Sean Manaea won his second game of the year. He struggled earlier in the season. Manaea went five innings and gave up six hits and three runs. Only one run was earned. The A’s bullpen allowed just two hits and no runs over the last four innings.

The Rangers scored the first run of the night in the bottom of the second. Designated hitter Jose Trevino doubled with one out. Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled to drive in Trevino to make it 1-0. The A’s tied the game in the top of the third. Rangers’ starter Kyle Gibson walked Tony Kemp and Jonah Heim to put men on at first and second with no out. Marcus Semien hit into a 5-4-3 double play. Kemp went to third on the play. Kemp scored when Gibson uncorked a wild pitch.

Oakland took a 3-1 lead in the top of the fourth. With one out and Mark Canha on first, A’s first baseman, Matt Olson, slammed his tenth big fly into the deep right-centerfield. The ball went 453 feet. Oakland added two more in the fifth. A’s second baseman started the inning when a pitch hit him on the back of his left foot. Marcus Semien hit his fifth dinger of the year to make in 5-1. Texas scored twice in their half of the inning. Manaea hit Rangers’ catcher, Robinson Chirinos, with a pitch. Kiner-Falefa singled. Marcus Semien committed a fielding error that allowed Yadiel Rivera to reach safely. Manaea struck out Leody Tavares for the second out. Left fielder Nick Solak singled to drive in Chirinos and Kiner-Falefa. Manaea retired Todd Frazier to end the inning. Both runs were unearned—the A’s lead 5-3 after five.
In the top of the seventh, the A’s broke the game open. They had two singles, a bases-clearing double, two walks, a hit batter, and an unusual fielder’s choice. Tony Kemp singled to get the rally going. Catcher Jonah Heim, playing in his first Major League game, singled to send Kemp to third. On the next play, Semien hit a sharp ground ball to Rangers’ third baseman Todd Frazier. Frazier threw home to get Kemp. Kemp was caught in a rundown. Somehow, Kemp was able to slide back into third base safely. It was unbelievable as he eluded Frazier’s attempt to tag him out. The A’s now had the bases loaded with one out. Robbie Grossman walked to drive in Kemp. Mark Canha was hit by a pitch to force in Heim, and the bases were still loaded. A’s right fielder Stephen Piscotty doubled to left to clear the bases. The A’s lead 10-3.
The A’s relievers, T.J.McFarland, Lou Trivino, and Jordan Weems, kept the Rangers off the board to preserve the win for Manaea.

Game Notes- with the win, the A’s improved to 21-10. The Rangers are now 11-18. The A’s have a four-game lead over the Houston Astros in the race for the top spot in the AL West.
The A’s, as a team, are hitting just .225. They rank 25th in that department. They are eighth in baseball in home runs. They are hitting .215 with runners in scoring position. They struck out ten times Tuesday night and have struck out 311 times so far this year. Matt Chapman struck out three times for the second night in a row.

Chad Pinder was not with the team as he is on paternity leave. The A’s recalled Seth Brown to take his place.
Game three of the four-game series will be played Wednesday night at Globe Life Field. The game will start at 5:05 pm.
Mike Fiers (3-1, 5.81 ERA) will go for Oakland. Lefty Kolby Allard will be on the hill for Texas.