A’s Bassitt shuts down Texas offense Oakland split the four-game series win 5-1

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Oakland A’s starter Chris Bassitt allowed only one run in seven innings pitched against the Texas Rangers on Thu Jun 24, 2021 at Arlington (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (46-31) needed to beat the Texas Rangers (27-48) Thursday afternoon at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Things have not gone for the Green and Gold on the ten-game road trip. The A’s were 2-4 coming into the game.

The A’s fell two games behind the rampaging Houston Astros in the race for first place in the AL West. Bob Melvin’s guys had to find a way to beat the young Texas team. Currently, in last place in the AL West, the Rangers beat the A’s twice in the series.

They scored eight runs in the first game, six in the second, and five last night. Bob Melvin knew the A’s had a chance to win as he sent out his ace, Chris Bassitt, to do the pitching. Bassitt entered the game with a record of 7-2. He gave the A’s what they needed. Bassitt went seven innings and allowed one run and five hits. He won his eighth game of the year 5-1 over the Rangers in Arlington, and it appears that Bassitt might be heading to this year’s All-Star game in Denver on July 13th.

The Rangers sent their promising lefty, Kolby Allard, to the hill to face the A’s. The A’s greeted him by putting three runs on the board in the first inning. With one out, Matt Chapman singled to start the rally. Chappie advanced to second on a wild pitch.

Matt Olson singled to send Chapman to third. Ramon Laureano doubled to plate Chapman with the A’s first run, Olson stopped at third base on the play. Olson scored the second run of the inning when Chad Pinder ground out 5-3. Jed Lowrie singled to drive in Laureano. The A’s led 3-0 halfway through the first inning.

The Rangers scored their only run of the game in the bottom of the second. Bassitt hit Rangers’ left fielder Eli White, leading off the inning with a pitch. White scampered to third on the play. Bassitt retired Willie Calhoun for the first out. The next hitter, Nick Solak, grounded out. White scored on the play. The A’s lead was now 3-1 after two innings.

Kolby Allard settled down. In the next five innings of work, he allowed just one and four hits. Jed Lowrie took Allard deep in the top of the fourth. Lowrie, hitting right-handed-blasted a 430-foot home run over the centerfield fence. It was Jed’s sixth dinger of the year. 

Oakland added a run in the top of the seventh. Josh Sborz was now pitching for Texas. A’s catcher, Aramis Garcia, singled to start the rally. Tony Kemp, who replaced Mark Canha in left field in the second inning, doubled to send Garcia to third. Sborz uncorked a wild pitch, and Garcia trotted home with the A’s fifth run.

Lefty Jake Diekman pitched a scoreless eighth, and Lou Trivino finished up, shutting the Rangers down in the ninth. The A’s win 5-1.

Game Notes and Stats: The A’s are now 46-31 for the season with the win. The A’s will either be one game or two games back, depending on what the Astros do against the Detroit Tigers later Thursday evening. 

Chris Bassitt was the man for Oakland Thursday. Bassitt improved to 8-2, and his ERA dropped to 3.25. In his seven innings of work, he allowed one run and five hits. He walked three, struck out four, and hit a batter. 

The hitting stars for Oakland were Jed Lowrie, Matt Olson, and Aramis Garcia. Lowrie had a single, homer, and two RBIs. Olson and Garcia each had two hits. The A’s finish the road trip with three games against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park starting Friday night. The Giants will open the park to full capacity Friday night, and a big crowd is anticipated. The A’s will have left Sean Manaea handle the pitching chores. Manaea’s is 6-3 with a 3.01 ERA. Johnny Cueto will go for the Giants. Cueto is 5-3 with a 4.05 ERA. The game will start at 6:45 pm. Let the Battle of the Bay begin!!!

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa: Canadiens could wrap up series with Knights in Montreal tonight

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Vegas Golden Knights center Chandler Stephenson (20) scrambles to reach the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Shea Weber (6) at the T Mobile Center in Las Vegas on Tue Jun 22, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Mary Lisa:

#1 After taking a tough loss on Sunday in Las Vegas to the Vegas Golden Knights 2-1 to even the series 2-2 the Montreal Canadiens rebounded on Tuesday night with a convincing 4-1 win over the Knights to take a 3-2 series lead and taking the series back to Montreal giving the Canadiens home ice tonight.

#2 The Habs on Tuesday night executed a successful offensive plan against the Knights at the T Mobile Center on the Las Vegas strip with a goal in the first period, scoring twice in the second period unanswered making it 3-0 after two periods getting the Canadiens off to a quick start.

#3 Scorers in game five for the Canadiens in the first period at 8:45 Jesperi Kotkaniemi, second period Eric Staal scored his second goal of the playoffs at 6:32 and Cole Caufield at 9:49 scored his third goal of the playoffs for the Habs quick 3-0 lead. Mary Lisa talk about the contribution of these players they really kept the Canadiens in it in this tight series.

#4 Mary Lisa, talk about the job that Canadiens goaltender Carey Price has done between the pipes he certainly kept the Knights out of this one allowing one goal and stopping 26 shots on Tuesday and the Canadiens will be dependent on his performance in game 6 in Montreal if their going to get by the Knights.

#5 Game 6 is the big one for the Knights its win big or go home their going to need some offense from their top skaters that they lacked in game 5 and for goaltender Marc Andre Fluery to keep busy between the pipes in Vegas and the Canadiens will look to their some of their top scorers Josh Anderson, Nick Suzuki, and Tyler Toffoli and goalie Carey Price just to set up tonight’s game for you.

Join Mary Lisa for the NHL Stanley Cup podcasts Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Oakland A’s podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: A’s to conclude four game series with Rangers today

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The Oakland A’s catcher Sean Murphy gets a greeting from teammates after hitting a solo homer in the top of the seventh inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wed Jun 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the A’s podcast with Jerry F:

#1 For a very brief period in Wednesday night’s game the Oakland A’s (45-31) held a 3-2 lead over the Texas Rangers (27-47) in Arlington. The A’s had scored three times in the top of the seventh inning to overtake a Rangers 2-0 lead.

#2 The 3-2 lead disappeared quickly after the Rangers scored twice in the bottom half of the seventh taking over the lead once again 4-3.

#3 In that bottom of the seventh when the Rangers took over the lead A’s reliever Yusmeiro Petit allowed two earned runs on two hits in one inning of work and that was all the Rangers needed to win it. For Petit it had to be a tough outing to lose the lead like that.

#4 Talk about Rangers slugger Adolis Garcia who was the offensive star for Texas on Wednesday hitting two solo home runs hard to keep a good hitter down.

#5 The A’s conclude this four game series with the Rangers today at Globe Life Field the A’s will send out starter Chris Bassitt (7-2 ERA 3.40) and the Rangers will start Kolby Allard (2-2 ERA 2.93) the A’s have lost two of the last three games with the Rangers and are hoping for a split.

Join Jerry for the A’s podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Rangers’ Garcia slams two solo home runs to pace Texas to a 5-3 win over the A’s

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Texas Rangers’ Adolis Garcia (53) gets the forearm bash from Joey Gallo (right) after hitting one of two solo home runs this one coming in the sixth inning at Globe Life Field in Arlington on Wed Jun 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (45-31) met the Texas Rangers (27-47) for the third time this week on Wednesday night at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The A’s, hoping to build on their win Tuesday night, sent James Kaprielian to the hill. Kaprielian entered the game with a 4-1 won-loss record and a sparkling 2.84 ERA.

The Rangers’ starter, Mike Foltynewicz, has been struggling all season. The 29-year-old righty’s record was a woeful 1-7 and had a 5.59 ERA. Foltynewicz had been tagged for 17 dingers so far this year. He led all the AL pitchers in that department. One would think that the A’s would have an easy time with the Rangers on Wednesday night.

The A’s James Kaprielian pitched very well for Oakland. The young man from Southern California had another quality start. Kaprielian went six innings and allowed two runs and five hits. The Rangers’ 28-year-old-rookie from Cuba, Adolis Garcia, took Kaprielian deep in the sixth inning. Foltynewicz pitched well, too. In his first six innings of work, Folty allowed no runs and four hits. He did not look like a pitcher with a 1-7 record.

The Rangers drew first blood in the bottom of the fifth. The Rangers’ left fielder, Eli White, led off the frame with a single. Then, Brock Holt hit into a 4-6-3 double play. Kaprielian walked Nick Solak. The next hitter, former A’s catcher Jonah Heim, who was traded to the Rangers and Kris Davis for Elvis Andrus, doubled to drive in White with the Rangers’ first run. In the bottom of the sixth, with two out, Adolis Garcia blasted his 19th dinger of the season to make it 2-0.

The A’s rallied to plate three runs in the top of the seventh. A’s catcher Sean Murphy hit the first pitch from Folty into the seats for his tenth big fly of the year. The ball traveled an estimated 442-feet. Elvis Andrus followed with a double. Rangers’ manager Chris Woodward brought in Spencer Patton to pitch.

A’s centerfielder, Skye Bolt, greeted him with a single to drive in Andrus with the A’s second run. Tony Kemp and Matt Chapman singled, and the A’s now led 3-2 midway through the seventh. A’s manager Bob Melvin, brought in Yusmeiro Petit to pitch.

Petit had not pitched since last Saturday, and the Rangers would put two on the board and regained the lead 4-3. The Rangers’ first baseman, Nate Lowe, sent Petit’s first pitch out of the ballpark to tie the game. Eli White, who was six-for-12 so far in the series, doubled. Brock holt singled to put Texas ahead 4-3 after seven.

Cam Bedrosian was on the hill for Oakland in the bottom of the eighth. Bedrosian retired the first two hitters he faced. He served up a pitch that Garcia sent into the stands in right field. It was Garcia’s 20th of the year and the seventh opposite-field home run. Joely Rodriguez closed out the game for Texas. The Rangers win 5-3.

Game Notes and Stats- With the loss, the A’s are 45-31 for the year. They fell two games behind the Houston Astros in the race for first place in the AL West. The Astros won their tenth in a row as they destroyed the hapless Baltimore Orioles 13-0 Wednesday night. The Rangers are 27-47 for the year.

The A’s line was three runs, ten hits, and no errors. The Rangers’ line was five runs, ten hits, and no errors. The Rangers hit three homers in the game, and the A’s had one. The Rangers’ outfielders, Joy Gallo and Eli White, each made a sensational sliding catch to rob the A’s hitters of possible extra-base hits.

The A’s conclude the four-game series Thursday afternoon. Chris Bassitt (7-2, 3.40 ERA) will go for Oakland. Kolby Allard (2-2, 2.93 ERA) will be on the mound for Texas. The game will start at 11:05 am.

Giants get rally caps on in 13th score 7 runs for 9-3 win over Halos

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The San Francisco Giants figured out the Los Angeles Angels and Shohei Ohtani after 13 innings of play. Here Ohtani rubs his neck between pitches in the first inning at Angels Stadium in Anaheim on Wed Jun 23, 2021 (AP News photo)

By Jessica Kwong

The San Francisco Giants’ ace Kevin Gausman delivered again and Brandon Crawford drew a bases loaded walk firing up a seven-run 13th inning for a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday night.

In seven innings at Angel Stadium, Gausman allowed one run – a home run in the fifth inning by Luis Rengifo. He allowed four hits and a walk and struck out nine batters.

The Giants and Angels each had a run in the 12th inning. But in the 13th inning, the Giants had a walk, a wild-pitch, a two-run single from Duggar and a three-run homer from Mike Tauchman to lead 9-2. The Angels only managed one run at the bottom of the 13th inning and got swept in the two-game series.

“It was a wild day for sure,” said outfield Steven Duggar, who was responsible for the two biggest hits after the ninth inning. “Wild, wild finish.”

Tauchman, who struck out five times before hitting the three-run homer, called himself a “jumped mess” and said his approach in the 13th inning was, “Please God, put something in play.” It appears his prayers were answered.

The Giants spoiled a dazzling performance by Angels superstar pitcher Shohei Ohtani. He allowed one run in six innings. Ohtani was not as impressive when he went to bat. Gausman got Ohtani to ground out in the first inning and then struck him out twice on splitters in the third and fifth innings.

Ohtani said Gausman is “a great pitcher, and his splitter was moving in a way that I haven’t really seen recently.” Ohtani admitted, “He got the best of us.”

San Francisco improved their record to 48-26, the best in the league.

The Giants return home to host the Oakland A’s for a three-game series starting on Friday. First pitch is at 6:45 p.m.

San Francisco 49ers podcast with David Zizmor: Kittle says Lance doesn’t let mistakes compound

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Trey Lance seen here working out on May 25, 2021 in Santa Clara has impressed his teammates in camp particularly tight end George Kittle this past week (AP News file photo)

On the 49ers podcast with David:

#1 San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle says that quarterback Trey Lance doesn’t let mistakes compound, Kittle says Lance learns from them and doesn’t repeat them.

#2 Kittle also says that Lance is a good quarterback that he’s a great athlete and he’s someone that wants to learn everyday. A video has surfaced showing Lance throwing to veteran receiver Mohamed Sanu.

#3 The talk has been will Lance take over at quarterback in place of starter Jimmy Garoppolo it’s just a matter of how things work out and how things look during the first few weeks of the season.

Join David for the 49ers podcast each Wednesday at http://www.sportsadioservice.com

NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast with Marko Ukalovic: Lightning just one game from making NHL Finals

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Tampa Bay Lightning center Barclay Goodrow (19) takes control of the puck against the New York Islanders left wing Otto Koivula (21) during game 5 of the NHL Stanley Cup Eastern Conference Finals in Tampa Bay on Mon Jun 21, 2021 (AP News photo)

On the NHL Stanley Cups Finals podcast:

#1 Marko the Tampa Bay Lightning just dominated the New York Islanders 8-0 in game five to take a 3-2 lead in the Eastern Conference Finals on Monday night.

#2 The Lightning’s Steve Stamkos scored twice and goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy threw a shutout on Monday night and stopped all 21 shots.

#3 For Vasilevskiy this is third shutout in the playoffs and there is little doubt he’s got the hottest hand of the goalies in the playoffs.

#4 Marko, what would you say lent to the Islanders just completely getting dominated in game five a shutout and the Bolts just lighting the lamp all night?

#5 Game six is tonight at the Nassau Coliseum the Isles have home ice and there is little doubt that they’ll play this one like their lives depend on it hoping to come away with tying the series. For the Lightning if they have any of that same momentum they had on Monday night they could put this one away and move onto the finals tonight.

Marko filled in for Len Shapiro for the NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs podcast heard with Len Wednesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Orlando City SC’s Michel and Dike score twice in 5-0 route over Earthquakes

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Orlando player Benji Michel celebrates after scoring a goal against San Jose goalkeeper J.T. Marcinkowski, right, Tue Jun 22, 2021 in Orlando (AP News photo)

by Marko Ukalovic

ORLANDO—When it rain it pours.

In the case of the Orlando City SC, the goals rained down just as much as the precipitation did as the host team dominated from start to finish in a 5-0 crushing shutout victory over the San Jose Earthquakes on a stormy Tuesday evening at Exploria Stadium.

It was the worst loss of the season for San Jose as they looked steps slower and played uninspired soccer for head coach Matias Almeyda for the entire 90 minutes. The Quakes have lost five of their past six matches. Orlando City have won two matches in a row and three out of its last four.

It was the second match in a row Almeyda has gone with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Orlando City SC turned the Quakes defense into a slice of Swiss cheese as they were able get open for scoring chances down the middle of the pitch throughout the whole match.

“We were very bad on the pitch. We did not apply the pressure we needed to. We did not use spaces we thought about using. The goals came from our mistakes,” Almedya said.

Orlando City SC (5-1-3) used their speed to generate their first goal. Benji Michel possessed the ball inside the box where Florian Jungwith was late to arrive and tripped Michel resulting in a penalty kick in the sixth minute.

Nani cashed in the penalty with a low shot to the lower left of the net that beat a diving Quakes goalie JT Marcinkowski a minute later.

Michel doubled Orlando City SC’s lead with his first goal of the match in the 16th minute. He beat Paul Marie to a chipped ball in the box by Chris Mueller and tapped it past Marcinkowski. 

Darly Dike made it 3-0 in the 31st when he grabbed a pass by Nani and drove around Marcinkowski before burying the ball into an empty net for his first goal of the match. Dike made his first start since returning from a successful loan spell with Barnsley in the English Championship.

The only thing that could stop Orlando City SC’s momentum and from scoring any more goal before halftime was the heavens. A lightning storm delayed the match for 56 minutes at the 40th minute of the first half. The match’s start was delayed for 30 minutes as the inclement weather made its presence throughout the night in the citrus city.

San Jose (3-6-1) was not able to generate any descent scoring chances. Whenever they possessed the ball in Orlando City SC’s side of the pitch a combination of sloppy turnovers, players not not being on the same page with one another and Orlando City outhustling them to clear the ball out of danger led to counter attacks the Quakes ended up getting burned on.

Cade Cowell and Shea Salinas coming into the match as subs once the match restarted did little to chance San Jose’s fortunes.

“They had three counterattacks and three goals pretty quickly there. It was a bit of a surprise and a bit frustrating for the whole team,” Salinas said.

Orland City SC didn’t let the long delay derail their momentum to start the second half. Off a set piece Nani serviced the ball into the middle of the box where Dike was left uncovered and his header beat Marckinkowski for his brace in the 49th minute.

Nani finished with a three point match (G, 2A).

“Orlando has more than just two important players; they have between 15 and 18 important players. Their fullbacks and center backs are important, their midfield is important, and they have many important attacking players. We are aware of the differences between rosters. We came to play our game, and evidently, we did that poorly. Our team, including myself, first and foremost, did not come through,” Almeyda said.

Michel completed the scoring with his own brace when he slammed home a shot from the near post that Marcinkowski had no chance at.

Orlando City SC’s goalie Brandon Austin had a relatively easy night only needing to make one save to earn the shutout victory. Marcinkowski, who received no help from his defense, made three saves on the eight shots he faced in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose had five corner kicks. Orlando City had two.

The Quakes are now 1-2-3 all-time vs. Orlando City SC.

Judson (25th minute) and Oswaldo Alanis (52nd minute) were issued yellow cards during the match.

UP NEXT: The Quakes return home to host the Los Angeles Galaxy in the second installment of the California Classico on Saturday 6/26 at 7:00pm at Pay Pal Stadium.

Giants shutout Angels in opener 5-0

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San Francisco Giants pitcher Anthony DeSclafani throws out Los Angeles Angels runner Max Stassi in the seventh inning on Tue Jun 22, 2021 in Anaheim (AP News photo)

By Jeremy Kahn

After a terrific home stand that saw the San Francisco Giants go 6-1, they returned to the road for a brief two-game series.

Anthony DeSclafani went seven innings allowing zero runs on three hits, walking just two and striking out nine, as the Giants defeated the Los Angeles Angels 5-0 at Anaheim Stadium.

With the victory, the Giants increased their lead over the second place Los Angeles Dodgers up to three games after the Dodgers lost to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park and their lead over the third place Padres remains at four and a half games.

Also, the Giants raise their record to a major-league best 47-26 on the season and threw their 10th shutout of the season.

The Giants did not waste any time to get on the scoreboard against Angels starter Andrew Heaney.

Mike Yastrzemski singled with one out in the top of the first inning, then after Darin Ruf hit an opposite field double that sent Yastrzemski to third. Buster Posey grounded out to for the second out of the inning; however, it easily scored Yastrzemski from third base.

Brandon Belt then laid down a perfect bunt down the third base line that scored Ruf from third base.

Following the Belt single, Wilmer Flores hit his third home run in the last two games, as he launched his seventh home run of the season to give the Giants a commanding 4-0 lead before the Angels even came to the plate for the first time.

Brandon Crawford, who went 3-for-3 on the night, as he continues his run to a potential spot on the National League All-Star team.

Mauricio Dubon drove in the fifth and final run of the evening for the Giants, as he hit his fifth home run of the season.

It was a tough night at the plate for Shohei Ohtani, who is tied for the major-league lead in home runs with Vladimir Guerrero, Jr., in home runs with 23, did not get the ball out of the infield, as he walked once and struck out three times.

Heaney went six innings, allowing five runs on two hits, did not walk a batter and struck out 10, as he saw his record fall to 4-5 on the season.

NOTES: Tommy La Stella will begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento, as he remains out with a left hamstring strain. La Stella has missed the last 45 games with the injury.

With two home runs on the night, the Giants now have 109 home runs on the season.

Since the divisional era began in 1969, this is just the sixth time that the Giants are 20 plus games over .500 prior to the month of July and it is the first time since June 23, 2016 when they were 47-27. They also reached that plateau in 2014, 1993, 1978 and 1971, the Giants reached the postseason in three of those seasons, 1971 (lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Championship Series, 2014 (won the World Series over the Kansas City Royals) and in 2016 (lost to the Chicago Cubs in the National League Division Series.

UP NEXT: Kevin Gausman looks to raise his record to 9-1 on the season, as he takes the mound for the Giants, while Ohtani takes the mound for the Angels, as he looks for his fourth win of the season against just one loss.

A’s get back on winning track rout the Rangers 13-6

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Oakland A’s Elvis Andrus forearm bashes with Matt Chapman (26) after Chapman hits a first inning home run against the Texas Rangers on Tue Jun 22, 2021 in Arlington (AP News photo)

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s (45-30) snapped a three-game losing streak as they routed the Texas Rangers (26-47) 13-6. The A’s sent lefty Cole Irvin to the hill Tuesday night. Irvin pitched well for the first four innings of the game. Things went south for him in the fifth.

The Rangers, trailing 9-0 at the point in the game, put four on the board to make it 9-4. Irvin started the rally by hitting the Rangers’ second Baseman, Nick Solak, with a pitch. Four hits and an error by Mark Canha in left field followed. Texas sent nine men to the plate in the inning. Irin was done for the night.

The Rangers decided to go with their bullpen to start the game. Rangers’ skipper Chris Woodward started lefty Taylor Hearn. The decision did not work out well for Texas. Hearn walked the A’s leadoff hitter Mark Canha. The next hitter, Matt Chapman, blasted a 422-foot home run into the seats in left field.

The ball had an exit velocity of 104.8 miles per hour. Hearn retired Matt Olson for the first out. Ramon Laureano singled. Pinder struck out swinging. Hearn then walked Jed Lowrie and Sean Murphy to load the bases. Former Texas Ranger shortstop Elvis Andrus singled to drive in two. The A’s led 4-0 midway through the first inning.

The A’s continued the onslaught in the second as they put three more runs on the board. Mark Canha led off the frame with a triple. He scored on Matt Chapman’s ground out. The Rangers’ second pitcher of the night, Brett de Gaus, walked Matt Chapman. Ramon Laureano homered to put the A’s ahead 7-0.

The Rangers brought in Jordan Lyles to pitch the third. A’s catcher Sean Murphy greeted him with a single. Elvis Andrus doubled to put men on at first and third with one out. Mark Canha singled to drive in Murphy and Andrus. The A’s had a commanding 9-0 lead after three complete.

As mentioned earlier, Irvin was in cruise control until the bottom of the fifth. He allowed three hits in his first four innings of work. The Rangers rallied for four in their half of the fifth and trailed 9-4.

A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Burch Smith to pitch the sixth. Smith retired all three hitters he faced. In the seventh, Sergio Romo was on the mound for Oakland. Romo retired the first two hitters he faced. He didn’t get past Eli White.

White homered to close the gap to 9-5. In the eighth, Bob Melvin brought in lefty Jake Diekman to face left-handed slugger Joey Gallo. The strategy failed. Gallo belted his 13th dinger of the year, and the Rangers crept within three 9-6. Bob Melvin had to be thinking that they could lose. Diekman struggled. He struck out Andy Ibanez for the first out.

He then walked Nick Solak. Solak attempted to steal second. Sean Murphy’s throw arrived in time. Andrus applied the tag as Solak’s foot came off the bag. The Rangers challenged the call, but the umpires did not reverse the call. Diekman then walked Willie Calhoun. Melvin had seen enough. He brought in Lou Trivino to get the final out.

After allowing two runs in the third, Jordan Lyles held the A’s scoreless the next five innings. The A’s could muster only two hits.

Things changed in the ninth. Chris Woodward brought in rookie DeMarcus Evans to face the A’s. The A’s offense woke up as they put together two singles and three doubles to put four more runs on the board to extend the lead to 13-6. Bob Melvin could breathe a lot easier. He did not have to use Trivino to finish the game. He brought in Deolis Guerra to close out the Rangers. Guerra did his job to secure Oakland’s win 13-6.

Game Notes and Stats- With the win, the A’s are 45-30 for the season. They remain one game behind the Houston Astros in the race for first place in the AL West. The Rangers drop to 26-47.

The A’s line was 13 runs, 15 hits, and one error. The A’s had a season-high 15 hits in the game. They tied a season-high with 13 runs.

The hitting stars for Oakland were Mark Canha ( 3 hits including a triple), Ramon Laureano had two singles and a home run, And Elvis Andrus had three hits, two singles, and a double.

The A’s will meet the Rangers again Wednesday night at Globe Life Stadium in Arlington, Texas. Bob Melvin will have James Kaprielian go for Oakland Kaprielian is 4-1 with a 2.84 ERA. The Rangers will counter with Mike Foltynewicz. Foltynewicz’s season has not gone well so far this year. The righty owns a record of 1-7 and a 5.59 ERA. His ERA in his last seven starts is 6.88.

The game will start at 5.05 pm.