The Oakland A’s Shea Langeliers (23) swung a hot bat in the first game of a doubleheader against the Texas Rangers driving in a career high five RBIs is seen here being congratulated by teammate Brent Rooker (25) at the Oakland Coliseum on Wed May 8, 2024 (AP News photo)

Texas (21-17). 101 200 000 4. 8. 0

Athletics (18-20). 020 211 30x 9 10 0

Time: 2:19

Attendance: Not announced

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

By Lewis Rubman

OAKLAND– After dropping three games in a row, one to the lowly Miami Marlins, and two to the powerful Texas Rangers, the Athletics returned to the win column by outmuscling the visitors from Arlington, 9-4, in the first game of this afternoon’s twin bill..

JP Spears, who started the first game has been a one-man double header so far this season. He had allowed a run or less in four of his previous starts and four or more in the remaining three. That gave him a record of 2-2, 3.89.

By day’s end Sears had thrown 88 pitches, 58 for strikes, over 5-2/3 innings, and allowed four runs, all earned, on seven hits, two of which went yard and a walk, while striking out three. Sears got the win, and his record now stands at 3-2, 4.20. Austin Adams relieved him with two down and a runner on first in the bottom of the sixth.

Sears opposite number for Bruce Bochy’s defending World Series champion Rangers, Michael Lorenzen, also is a Janus-faced hurler. His 2023 highlights were high indeed, including a no hitter in his second start for Philadelphia but Lorenzen’s post acquisition fall off fully justified the Phillies’ refusal to offer him a multi-year contract, leading him to sign as a free agent with Texas on March 22.

Sears brought a season record of 2-1, 3.52 and lifetime numbers of 4-0, 0.29 against the A’s with him to the Coliseum. Sears had seven pitches in his arsenal; the four seamer, slider, sinker, and change of pace being the ones he uses most frequently.

Rangers starter Michael Lorenzen was unimpressive this afternoon, yielding a half a dozen runs, all of them earned, in as many innings. He threw 107 pitches, 30 of them balls and walked two batters, while striking out six. He took the loss, which left him at 2-2, 4.66.

Sears used up his Dr. Jekyl allotment of runs in the opening frame. Marcus Semien opened things with a single to left, advanced to second on a walk to Corey Seager and to third on a fielder’s choice, short to third, when Brett Harris was off the bag to receive the throw and then failed to take the runner. Jonah Heim’s sacrifice fly to right brought the Rangers’ second baseman home with the game’s first tally.

Sean Langeliers erased Texas’s momentary advantage with a 376 foot blast into the left field staircase with Brent Rooker, who had singled to center, on board. It was the A’s eighth round tripper and came on an 89 mph sweeper.

The A’ lead was shorter than the Rangers’. Semien, leading off, wiped it out on the third pitch of the top of the third, a 91 mph four seam fastball that carried 412 feet into left for his game tying seventh dinger of 2024.

Texas went ahead again in its next go round on a two run homer by Leody Tavares. Ezequiel Durán was on base after an infield single and a productive out when the Rangers’ center fielder knocked the ball 411 feet into left centerfield. It was, after all, a dry, sunny day by the banks of the River Nimitz.

Before you knew it, the green and gold had knotted the score again. Rooker knocked a one out double off the right centerfield wall, between the State Farm and Coca-Cola signs. Davis followed with a two bagger to right, but Rooker stopped at third because Adolís García almost caught Davis’s shot. Both runners scored on Langeliers’ double.

One inning later, Harris put the A’s ahead with his second home run of the year, taking a first pitch 92 mph sinker 428 feet into the left field seats. It was now 5-4 in favor of the temporary occupants of the Coliseum.

They added to that in their half of the sixth. Langeliers followed a lead off walk to Davis with his third extra base hit in as many plate appearances, a triple to left center, and now Kotsay’s crew was up, 6-4.

Cole Winn took over for Lorenzen after the singing of “Take Me Out to the Ball Game.” He was the victim of the A’s third home run of the game, a three run 427 foot shot by Rooker over the wall in dead centerfield, his ninth HR and 22nd, 23rd, and 24th RBI of the year.

The reigning AL Reliever of the Month, fireballer Mason Miller, set the Rangers down 1,2,3 in the eighth, two of them by strikeouts. Ditto in ninth.

The second game of the afternoon’s entertainment is scheduled to start at 3:35. Both teams will send freshly promoted right handed starters. The Athletics will call on Osvaldo Bido, who has 50-2/3 innings of Major League experience but hasn’t thrown a pitch in the show for 2024. The Rangers’ Jack Leiter does, although he probably wishes he didn’t since he comes to work today at 0-0,17. 18).