Shea Langeliers #23 of the Athletics hits a two-run home run against the Texas Rangers in the bottom of the six inning at Sutter Health Park on April 15, 2026 in Sacramento, California. All players are wearing the #42 in honor of Jackie Robinson Day. (Mandatory photo credit: Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

By Jeremiah Salmonson

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Rangers and A’s squared off in game three of their four-game series at Sutter Health Park on Jackie Robinson Day across MLB.

The Rangers made it interesting late, but the A’s secured the 6-5 win to take sole possession of first place in the AL West.

J.T. Ginn started the game for the A’s and gave Mark Kotsay and the A’s a solid outing. Ginn lasted five and a third innings of two-run, two-hit ball while striking out three and walking four. The walks continue to be an issue for the A’s staff, but Ginn managed to work around them and provide the A’s with a bit of depth on Wednesday.

“…Tonight he [J.T. Ginn] went out and showed why he’s in the rotation right now,” Kotsay said after the game. “I thought he did a great job, made one mistake to Seager, and just found his rhythm. Obviously for him, his pitch count was limited a little bit at 80, and he fell right on the number, so I couldn’t ask for more from J.T.”

J.T. Ginn was confident after the game, which has become a theme for A’s starters this season.

“…I feel great,” Ginn told reporters after the game. “I feel like I’m throwing the ball well. It’s coming out of my hand well and just kind of executing the game plan and executing the work throughout the week and just getting ready to play.”

Hogan Harris was first out of the bullpen for the A’s to finish off the sixth inning after they lifted Ginn. Harris got the two outs he was tasked with getting with ease while giving up nothing and recording a strikeout.

Scott Barlow came on for the A’s to pitch the seventh, allowing no runs on one hit while striking out one.

Mark Leiter Jr., who pitched a perfect inning on Tuesday to get the save, came on for the eighth inning. Leiter Jr. didn’t have his best stuff and was only able to get two outs in the inning after surrendering a three-run shot to the Rangers to get them to within one. Leiter Jr.’s final line was two-thirds of an inning in which he gave up three runs on two hits while walking one and striking out one.

After Mark’s struggles, the A’s called on Joel Kuhnel for the four-out save. Kuhnel got the final out of the eighth in earnest with a lineout before returning in the ninth with a one-run lead, looking for the save. Kuhnel pitched a perfect ninth inning and struck out two to finish the game and earn his third save of the season.

The A’s offense collected seven hits and six walks against the Rangers’ pitching staff while scoring six runs in the game.

The A’s scored early in the game on a first-inning RBI double from Tyler Soderstrom to get them on the board. Shortly after, in the second inning, Denzel Clarke recorded an RBI single to give the A’s a 2-0 advantage early.

The Athletics didn’t score again until the sixth inning when Shea Langeliers broke the tie with a two-run mammoth blast to left field. Langeliers’ home run traveled an impressive 467 feet, which is the farthest home run in MLB this season.

“…For Shea, we all know the power is there,” Kotsay told me after the game. “We talked about him being more of a complete hitter, which we’ve seen. There’s just so much growth from Shea over the last two and a half, three years as a hitter… not surprising on my end. I felt like the accomplishments that he had coming out of AAA, all of his minor league numbers said that he was a professional hitter, and he is continuing to show it as we get into the season.”

Shea knew he hit it hard, but he had no idea it was the farthest-hit ball in MLB this season.

“I knew off the bat it was going over the fence. I didn’t know how far,” Shea said after the game.

The last bit of scoring for the A’s came by way of the long ball again, this time from Jacob Wilson. Wilson sent a towering two-run home run over the wall in left field in the seventh inning to give the A’s some cushion with the newly acquired four-run lead. Turns out, those would be the winning runs as the A’s gave up three in the eighth inning.

With the win, the A’s improve to 10-8 and have sole possession of first place for the first time in a long time, albeit in April.

“I think the belief is here in this clubhouse,” Shea Langeliers said after the game after being asked about finding themselves in first place. “We know that we’re a good baseball team, and the hardest part over 162 is just being consistent night in, night out, and that’s what we’re striving to be this year—to be a consistent team, show up every night, play our best version of baseball.”

The A’s will try to take the four-game series from the Rangers on Thursday at 12:05 p.m. PST. The A’s will send Jacob Lopez (1-1, 7.43 ERA) to the hill, while the Rangers will counter with Jack Leiter (1-1, 4.91 ERA) in the matinee affair.

Whether you’re pre-gaming with the Kings or celebrating an A’s win, Cyprus Grille at the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena is your downtown go-to.

⚡Craft cocktails? Check.
🔥Game-day bites? Oh yeah.
🏟️Steps from Golden 1 Center? You bet.

Open daily, Cyprus Grille is serving up local flavor with a front-row seat to the action. Stop by before or after the game—or make it your new downtown hangout.

Cyprus Grille—where fans fuel up.

📍Located inside the Holiday Inn Sacramento Downtown – Arena @ 300 J Street

Happy Hour – 4pm-6pm

Show your ticket for additional discounts when dining in.