In the first inning of the second game of the doubleheader the shortstop Oakland A’s Marcus Semien (10) puts the tag down on the Texas Rangers Isiah Kiner-Falefa (9) on an attempted steal (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

The Oakland A’s were back on the field for game two of their double header with the Rangers after dropping the first game to Texas 5-2. It was a real sleeper with a less than a stellar offensive effort by Oakland. Chris Bassitt was starting the game for Oakland and Kolby Allard for the Rangers.

It was a slow start for the A’s in the first inning. Tommy La Stella had a single to left but that was about all the A’s could muster. Bassitt handled the Rangers easily in the bottom of the inning.

The A’s had their first hit off the bat of Matt Olson in the top of the second inning. Kris Davis would walk and the A’s had two on and nobody out. 13 batters later the A’s had busted the game wide open leading 7-0 turning the tables on the Rangers.

The A’s were at bat for 40 minutes in the inning. Ramon Laureano,Sean Murphy, Tommy La Stella, Stephen Piscotty, and Marcus Semien all had hits and Kris Davis and Matt Olson both walked. The second inning was a good one for Bassitt striking out Joey Gallo and Sam Huff. Ronald Guzman grounded out to end the bottom of the inning.

The top of the third inning was a good one for Luke Farrell who had taken over on the mound. The A’s would go three up and three down. The bottom of the third inning started out promising for the Rangers whose bats had come alive.

Eli White had doubled and Leody Taveras singled to center with only one out. It was a disappointing ending however for the Rangers when Isiah Kinesr-Faleta grounded into a double play and the game would go into the fourth inning.

It was a quick top of the fourth for Oakland. Piscotty fouled out, Olson popped out and Davis struck out swinging. The Rangers got something going in the bottom of the fourth. Gallo hit a double and Dietrick had an infield single setting up a nice opportunity for the Rangers. It was short-lived when Solak flied out and Huff and Guzman both struck out.

The 7-0 lead that the A’s had held steady going into the top of the fifth inning. The A’s would extend their lead when Marcus Semien hit his fifth homer of the season. He would bring in Murphy and Machin with the shot and the A’s now held a 10-0 lead. Bassitt handled the Rangers in the bottom of the fifth facing only four batters.

The top of the sixth inning was again a short one for the A’s. Heading into the bottom of the sixth, the Rangers finally got on the board with a Gallo home run. That was all for the Rangers who now trailed the A’s by the score of 10-1.

The game finally headed into the top of the seventh inning; a long day of baseball for both teams. Brett Martin would face Oakland in the final inning. He dismissed Semien, La Stella and Piscotty in quick order.

Closer Yusmeiro Petit came to the mound to finish off Texas. Although the Rangers had a couple of singles in the inning, Petit struck out three and that was the game with Oakland winning 10-1. “Not a surprise.”

“Whatever happens these guys respond and they just have to keep moving on,” said Bob Melvin in regards to the injuries the team is now facing. Losing Matt Chapman for the season was a blow and now losing Chad Pinder to a right hamstring strain is yet another challenge. This team is resilient and deep which is a very good thing.

Game four in this series will be played tomorrow with first pitch at 11:35.