Tag: texas rangers

Rangers crush A’s 8-2 to win series

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Photo credit: @athletics_fanly

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Rangers hit four home runs to beat the A’s for the second night in a row at Glove lIfe Stadium on Wednesday night.

Rangers’ starter Bartolo “Big Sexy” Colon won his third game of the year. With the win, the 243rd of his 20-year career, he tied Juan Marichal for most wins by a pitcher born in the Dominican Republic. He went five innings and allowed six hits and two runs. The Rangers’ bullpen held the A’s scoreless the rest of the way and won 8-2.

The Rangers plated three runs in the bottom of the first to take an early 3-0 lead. With two out, Nomar Mazara doubled. Jurickson Profar slammed his fifth big fly of the season to give the Rangers a 2-0 lead. A’s starter Daniel Mengden then served up a gopher ball to Joey Gallo. Gallo sent his 17th of the year into the seats in the second deck in right field to make it 3-0.

Mengden continued to struggle as Profar hit his second dinger of the night to give Texas the advantage 4-0 in the bottom of the third. The Rangers’ onslaught continued as they tallied two more runs in the fourth. Rangers’ catcher Robinson Chirinos walked and scored when Ronald Guzman took Mengden deep for his seventh of the year. The A’s trail 6-0.

The A’s put two on the board in the top of the fifth. A’s leading hitter, Jed Lowrie, reached on a double. Designated Hitter Khris Davis hit his 15th dinger to drive in Lowrie, and the A’s trailed 6-2.

Texas scored two more in the seventh. With the bases loaded and one out, Jurickson Profar continued his big night when he singled to drive in two more runs. The Rangers were done scoring, and they won 8-2.

Game Notes: Jurickson Profar was the hitting star for the Rangers. He had his first multi-homer game and had a career-high five runs batted in.

Bartolo Colon won his 243rd game and needs just one more strikeout to reach 2500 for his career. Colon, who is 45 years old, evened his season’s record at 3-3.

A’s starter Daniel Mengden, who was so good in May, took the loss. Mengden is now 6-5 and his line for the night was four innings pitched, five hits, and six runs. Four of the five hits Mengden allowed were home runs.

The A’s announced that Matt Joyce was placed on the 10-day DL retroactive to June 3rd. They recalled outfielder Nick Martini from Nashville. Martini, if he gets into a game, will be making his Major League debut.

The A’s also announced that pitcher Paul Blackburn will be activated from the 60-day DL and will be making his season’s debut against the Kansas City Royals Friday night at the Coliseum.

The Royals will send Jason Hammel to the hill to handle the pitching chores. Hammel gave up seven hits and three runs in six innings of work against the A’s last Saturday in Kansas City. Hammel did not get a decision.

Sad News: Baseball lost one of its greatest players Wednesday. The St. Louis Cardinals announced that Albert “Red” Schoendienst passed away at the age of 95. Schoendienst had a great career as a second baseman and won championships with the Cardinals and Braves. Schoendienst was a member of Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Up Next: The A’s will welcome the Royals for a four-game series starting Thursday night at 7:05 pm PDT.

Bombs away: Rangers top A’s 7-4

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Photo credit: nbcbayarea.com

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Texas Rangers blasted five home runs to down the A’s 7-4 at Globe Life Park on Tuesday night.

A’s ace Sean Manaea, who was 1- 4 with a 7.18 ERA in his six starts in May, went 5 1/3 innings and allowed four hits and two runs. Rangers’ starter Matt Moore, who has struggled all season, pitched six innings and he allowed eight hits and three runs. Neither starter figured in the decision.

The A’s took an early lead in the top of the first. With two out, Jed Lowrie started the rally with a double to left field. A’s DH Khris Davis doubled to deep left field to drive in Lowrie. Matt Olson singled to drive in Davis with the A’s second run of the night.

Rangers’ catcher Robinson Chirinos homered in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to one. The A’s lead 2-1.

Khris Davis hit a solo blast in the top of the fifth to make it 3-1. Rangers’ Jurickson Profar sent a Manaea pitch out of the park in the sixth to make it a one-run game as they trail the A’s 3-2.

In the top of the seventh, Chad Pinder doubled to deep center field. Pinder tagged up and moved to third when Lowrie flew out. The Rangers issued a free pass to Davis, but Olson thwarted the strategy when he singled to drive in Pinder.

A’s manager Bob Melvin brought in Yusmeiro Petit to face the Rangers in the bottom of the seventh. With one out, Delino DeShields reached on a bunt single. Shin-Soo Choo homered to tie the game at four apiece.

The Rangers’ setup reliever retired the A’s in order in the top of the eighth. The Rangers took the lead for good in their half of the inning. Rookie reliever Lou Trivino was rocketed by the veteran Adrian Beltre’s second home run of the season. Beltre has missed 28 games so far this year due to an injury, but the future Hall of Fame player showed that he can still play. Jurickson Profar walked and then scored on big Joey Gallo’s blast that propelled the Rangers to a 7-4 advantage. Closer Keone Kela, struck out Lowrie, Davis, and Olson to earn his 14th save of the year. The Rangers win 7-4.

Game Notes: The Rangers evened the season’s series at four apiece.

The A’s fall to 31-30 and the Rangers improved to 26-37.

Chris Martin was the winning pitcher, and Lo Trivino took the loss.

The A’s announced that they placed Daniel Gossett on the 10-day DL with a strained right elbow. They also sent pitcher Josh Lucas back to Triple-A Nashville.

A’s relief pitcher Liam Hendriks was activated off the 10-day DL, and as a result, they recalled catcher Josh Phegley from Nashville.

Up Next: Game 2 of the two-game series will be played at 5:05 pm PDT. Daniel Mengden will go for Oakland, and the ageless Bartolo Colon will be on the hill for Texas.

Rangers snap A’s four-game win streak with 4-2 victory

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

There was good news and bad news in the loss the A’s suffered Wednesday night at the hands of the Texas Rangers.

The good news was that A’s starter Kendall Graveman went six innings, threw 112 pitches, struck out seven and allowed just three earned runs on six hits. The bad news was that it wasn’t good enough to get his first win of the year. Graveman took the loss and is now 0-5, but his ERA improved to 8.89.

Doug Fister made his first start since April 9 and didn’t make it out of the fifth inning. The A’s had chances to score early in the game but couldn’t get a needed hit to put runs on the board. Fister threw 105 pitches in 4 2/3 inning of work and left the game trailing 2-1.

The A’s put two runs on the board in the top of the third. A’s shortstop Marcus Semien singled with one out. Fister retired the hot-hitting Jed Lowrie, but could not get by A’s DH Khris Davis. Khrush sent a Fister pitch over the fence in right center field to give the A’s the lead. Texas scored a run in the bottom of the fourth. Joey Gallo started the rally with a single to right. Ranger first baseman Ronald Guzman singled to send Gallo to third. Catcher Juan Centeno hit a ground ball to Jed Lowrie, who got the force out at second, but Centeno beat the relay to first. The A’s challenged the call, but the call was upheld and the run was scored. The A’s lead 2-1 after four.

In the bottom of the fifth, Graveman retired the first two hitters he faced. Jurickson Profar doubled and scored on a single by Nomar Mazara, who went to second on the throw home. Graveman walked Joey Gallo to put men on at first and second. Isiah Kiner-Falefa, playing third base in place of the injured Andre Beltre, singled to drive in Mazara to put the Rangers ahead 3-2.

The Rangers added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth. The big hit was a triple by Guzman to drive in the Rangers’ fourth run.

The A’s could do nothing in the ninth, and their four-game winning streak was over.

Game Notes: With the loss, the A’s record is now 13-12. The Rangers improve to 9-17

The line score for Oakland was two runs, four hits, and two errors. Texas improves to 9-17. Their line was four runs, eight hits, and one error.

Khris Davis’ home run was the seventh of the season and the 19th in 44 games against Texas.

Reliever Ryan Buchter left the game in the seventh inning after facing one hitter. Buchter complained about shoulder stiffness.

Up Next: The A’s are off Thursday, and they head to Houston to face the World Champion Houston Astros for a three-game series. Friday night’s game will be a battle of two excellent pitchers. The A’s Sean Manaea will be making his first start since he threw a no-hitter last Saturday night against Boston. Manaea is 3-2 and has an ERA of just 1.23. The A’s will face Houston’s Dallas Keuchel. Keuchel is a former Cy Young award winner and is 1-3 for the year, but he has a respectable ERA of 3.10. Game time will be at 5:05 pm PT.

A’s win fourth in a row as they escape with a 3-2 victory over the Rangers

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Photo credit: @athletics_fanly

By Jerry Feitelberg

It was an old-fashioned pitching duel for the first five innings of the Tuesday night game between the Oakland A’s and the Texas Rangers. Andrew Triggs, who did not have a good outing last week against the White Sox last week, was on the top of his game as he and the Rangers’ Cole Hamels each shut down their opponents’ offense for the first five innings.

Things changed in the sixth. Hamels retired the first two hitters he faced. Mark Canha, who has played well since his recall from Nashville, hit a flyball to deep right field. Rangers’ right fielder, Nomar Mazara, appeared to have made the catch but his wrist hit the wall, and the ball dropped out of his glove, and the A’s had the lead 1-0. For Canha, it was his third big fly of the season. The Rangers tied the game in their half of the sixth. Delino DeShields reached safely when he laid down a rarely seen push bunt. The ball was placed between first baseman Matt Olson and Triggs. Olson fielded the bunt but no one covered first, and DeShields was safe. Triggs nailed Shin-Soo Choo with a pitch to put men on at first and second with no out. With Mazara at-bat, Triggs and A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy got mixed up on what pitch was coming, and the ball got past Lucroy to advance the runners. Lucroy was charged with a passed ball. Triggs walked Mazara to load the bases. Rangers’ veteran third baseman hit a sacrifice fly to right field to drive in DeShields with the tying run.

The A’s regained the lead in the top of the seventh. Lucroy doubled to start the inning but was thrown out at third. Marcus Semien followed with a double and that hit ended Hamels’ night. Matt Bush walked Matt Joyce who was pinch-hitting for Chad Pinder. The next hitter, Jed Lowrie doubled to drive in Semien with the A’s second run. With Khris Davis hitting, Rangers’ catcher Robinson Chirinos saw Joyce a little too far off third base and nailed him with a throw to Beltre for the second out of the frame. Davis then grounded out to end the threat.

The A’s scored another run in the eightth when Matt Olson doubled to drive in Matt Chapman from first base. The Rangers got a run back in the bottom of the eighth. Blake Treinen relieved Ryan Dull with one out. Rangers’ DH Shin-Soo Choo lined a shot of Treinen’s leg for a single. Treinen had to leave the game, and there was no word on the extent of the injury. Bob Melvin brought in Lou Trivino to pitch. Trivino struck out Mazara for the second out, but Adrian Beltre singled to deep right-center field to drive in Shoo. Beltre pulled up limping as he injured a hamstring and had to leave the game.

The A’s called on the veteran Santiago Casilla to close out the game. Casilla retired the side to preserve the win for Oakland. The A’s win 3-2.

Game Notes and Stats: With the win, the A’s improve to 13-11, and the Rangers fall to 8-17. Andrew Triggs improved to 2-0, and his ERA lowered to 4.70. Cole Hamels took the loss for Texas and is now 1-4 with an ERA of 4.41. Casilla picked his first save of the season.

Up Next: Game 3 of the three-game series will feature Kendall Graveman (0-4, 10.07 ERA) will be looking for his first win, and he will be opposed by the tall righty Doug Fister who will be making his first start since April 9th. Fister is 1-2 with an 3.59 ERA. Game time will be at 5:05 pm PT.

A’s back over .500 after 9-4 rout of Rangers

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

The Oakland A’s defeated the Texas Rangers 9-4 to start the nine-game road trip on a high note. A’s pitcher Trevor Cahill made his second start of the year, going five innings and allowing seven hits and three runs. He was opposed by lefty Matt Moore, the former San Francisco Giant, in his first year as a Ranger. Moore also went five innings and allowed three runs.

The A’s put two runs on the board in the top of the third. Marcus Semien singled to start the inning. Moore walked Stephen Piscotty to put men on at first and second with no out. Moore retired Jed Lowrie for the first out. Designated hitter Khris Davis doubled down the left field line to drive in Semien and Piscotty with the first two runs of the night.

The Rangers cut the deficit to one in their half of the third. With men on at second and third, Cahill uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Isiah Kiner-Falefa to score. The A’s got the run back in the fourth. Mark Canha doubled and scored on Chad Pinder’s single to center. The lead didn’t last long as the Rangers tied the game when Cahill made a mistake to Rangers’ catcher Robinson Chirinos. Chirinos, hitting a buck 53, hung a curveball and with Jurickson Profar on base, tied the game.

There was no more scoring until the ninth inning.

Marcus Semien, on the first pitch from Kevin Jepsen, homered to give the A’s the lead 4-3. The A’s scored five more times to make it 9-3. A’s manager Bob Melvin let Ryan Buchter start the ninth. Buchter retired the first hitter and then was replaced by Chris Hatcher.

The Rangers were able to score a run, but Hatcher was able to retire Profar and Chirinos to end the game.

Game Notes: The A’s line score was nine runs on 14 hits and one error.

The Rangers line was four runs, seven hits and no errors.

Ryan Buchter received credit for the A’s win. Jepsen took the loss for the Rangers.

Semien, Canha, Davis, Matt Chapman, Jake Smolinski, and Jonathan Lucroy all drove in runs for Oakland. For Smolinski, it was his first RBI since late in the 2016 season. Jed Lowrie continued his hot hitting as he had two more hits.

The A’s have won seven of the last eight games played and are now 12-11 for the year. The Rangers drop to 8-16.

Sad News: The A’s announced that former owner Ken Hofmann passed away at age 95. Hofmann purchased the team along with Steve Schott, in late 1995 and sold the team in 2005. The A’s went to the playoffs three times during his tenure.

Up Next: Game two of the series will be played Tuesday night in Texas. Game time will be at 5:05 pm PT. Andrew Triggs will pitch for Oakland. The Rangers’ ace, Cole Hamels, will be on the hill for Texas.

Rangers beat A’s 6-3 to earn a split of four-game series

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s finished the four-game series with the Texas Rangers on a sour note Thursday afternoon as they were defeated by the Rangers 6-3 at the O.co Coliseum.

Daniel Mengden started for Oakland, and he went 5 1/3 innings. He had a rough second inning when the Rangers put together four hits to score four runs. He committed a throwing error and almost had to leave the game when he was hit on his leg. He pitched well after the second inning, but the damage was done.

Rangers’ starter, lefty Martin Perez, was making his first start of the year and he picked up the win. Perez went 5 2/3 innings. He was touched for 10 hits, but the A’s could only score three times. They had their chances, but could not capitalize.

Things went south for Daniel Mengden in the top of the second inning. The Rangers’ third baseman Adrian Beltre led off the inning with a double to left. Nomar Mazara singled to put men on at first and third with no out. Second baseman Rougned Odor lined a single off Mengden’s ankle to drive in Beltre. Mengden dropped to the ground in pain. A’s manager Bob Melvin, and the trainer ran out to see the extent of the injury. Fortunately, Mengden was able to continue pitching. On the next play, Ryan Rua hit a slow roller past the mound. Mengden fielded it, but his throw to first went down the right-field line. Mazara and Odor scored, and Rua landed on third. Drew Robinson followed with a single. The Rangers scored four times and lead 4-0.

The A’s got two back in the bottom of the third. Shortstop Marcus Semien got the rally going with a single. Chad Pinder singled to put men on at first and second with no out. Jed Lowrie, hitting from the right side, doubled to drive in Semien with the A’s first run. Pinder stopped at third. Pinder scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of DH Khris Davis. The A’s trail 4-2 after three innings of play.

The A’s added a run in the bottom of the seventh. Matt Chapman and Stephen Piscotty singled to put men on at first and third with one out. Matt Joyce, pinch-hitting for Jake Smolinski, drove in Chapman with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 4-3.

The Rangers increased the lead to three in the top of the ninth when they scored twice with two men out. Juan Centeno singled, and that was followed by a home run to right-field by Shin-Soo-Choo that iced the win for Texas as the A’s failed to score in the bottom of the ninth. Texas wins 6-3.

Game Notes and Stats: A’s starter Daniel Mengden had a rough second inning when he was touched for four hits and four runs, three of which were earned. Mengden settled down and retired 11 in a row after the second-inning meltdown, but the damage was done. The A’s bullpen held the Rangers scoreless until Choo’s homer in the ninth. Mengden’s record drops to 0-2 and Texas starter Martin Perez recorded his first win of the year.

Jed Lowrie paced the A’s with three hits and an RBI. Matt Chapman had two singles to continue his hot start for Oakland. Stephen Piscotty also had two hits.

Rangers’ third baseman Adrian Beltre doubled in the second inning for his 3,054th hit in his illustrious career. Beltre passed Rod Carew for 25th all-time in hits and is now has the most hits of any Latin-born player in Major League history. He is a lock to make it to Baseball’s Hall of Fame.

Both teams are now 3-5 for 2018.

Up Next: The A’s go on the road for a four-game series with the Los Angeles Angels, two games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, and finish the road trip with three in Seattle against the Mariners before returning home to host the Chicago White Sox on April 16th.

A’s hammer Rangers 6-2 behind Sean Manaea’s dominant pitching

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The A’s sent out their big lefty Sean Manaea to face the Texas Rangers Wednesday night at the O.co Coliseum. Manaea pitched well in the A’s second game of the season, but took the loss. However, he was dominant against the Rangers. He mixed up his pitches, and he allowed the Rangers just three singles. The A’s gave Manaea some run support as they led 5-0 after four and he was on cruise control.

The A’s scored the first run of the night in the bottom of the second inning. With one out, Matt Chapman singled. Fister struck out Chad Pinder for the second out, but he could not get by Bruce Maxwell. Maxwell lined a double into the gap in left centerfield to drive in Chapman with the A’s first run.

The A’s sent eight men to the plate in the bottom of the fourth. The A’s scored four runs on two hits, and only one of the runs was earned. The A’s loaded the bases with no out. Chapman singled, Pinder was hit by a pitch, and Bruce Maxwell walked. Boog Powell hit a grounder to the first baseman, Joey Gallo. Gallo’s throw home appeared to nail Chapman, but catcher Robinson Chirinos could not handle the throw and the run scored, and the bases were still loaded. Marcus Semien hit a drive to centerfield that was caught at the base of the wall. Pinder scored, and Maxwell and Powell tagged up and advanced to third and second. Fister struck out Matt Joyce for the second out, but Jed Lowrie ended Fister’s night when he singled to drive two more runs. The A’s lead 5-0 after four complete innings.

The Rangers scored their first run of the game in the top of the fifth. Manaea gave up a single to Nomar Mazara and followed that by walking Chirinos. Jurickson Profar hit a long fly to the rightfield corner. Chad Pinder made a wonderful running catch for the first out, but Mazara was able to tag up and advance to third base. Ryan Rua then hit into a fielder’s choice to drive in Mazara. The A’s added a run in the bottom of the seventh when they loaded the bases with no out. Matt Olson singled to knock in the run, and the bases were still loaded, but they could do no more. The A’s lead 6-1 after seven innings.

Bob Melvin pulled his starter Sean Manaea after he finished the eighth inning. Yusmeiro Petit started the ninth for Oakland, and it did not go well as the Rangers’ DH hit a home run on the second pitch he saw from Petit. Petit settled down and retired the next three hitters to secure the win for Oakland.

Game Notes and Stats: Sean Manaea won his first game of the year as he went eight innings and allowed just one run and three hits. He dazzled the Texas hitters and kept them off balance all night. Manaea pitched well his last time out but did not get any run support and lost to the LA Angels.

The A’s offense came to life Wednesday night. The A’s did not hit any home runs, but they got key hits when they needed them. The hitting stars for Oakland were Jed Lowrie and Matt Chapman. They each knocked in two runs to pace the A’s attack.

Manaea went eight innings and allowed just one and three hits. He threw 94 pitches. He probably wanted to finish the game, but A’s manager Bob Melvin saw things differently. Manaea is 1-1 and Texas starter, Doug Fister, lost his first of the year and is also 1-1.

It was another sparse crowd again. There were 7,908 fans in the seats on a fairly chilly night.

The good news was the time of the game. They played the game in two hours and 23 minutes and everyone gets to go home early.

Up Next: Game four of the four-game series will be Thursday afternoon at 12:30 pm. Daniel Mengden (0-1) will go for Oakland, and the Rangers will counter with lefty Martin Perez (0-0).

Cole Hamels leads Rangers to 4-1 win over A’s

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by Jerry Feitelberg

Oakland- The Texas Rangers beat the A’s Tuesday night 4-1 behind the strong pitching by their ace, Cole Hamels. The veteran left recorded 11 strikeouts in five innings of work and held the A’s offense to just one run. The A’s starter Kendall Graveman ran into trouble in the second inning, and he struggled for the second game in a row. The Rangers scored two in the second, one in the third and one in the fourth to send the A’s down to defeat.

The Rangers got to Kendall Graveman in the second inning. He gave up 2 runs on four hits.  Adrian Beltre started the rally with a sharp single to center field. For Beltre, it was the 3,053rd hit of his illustrious career. The hit tied him with Rod Carew for most hits by a Latin player, and he ranks 25th all-time in that department. The next hitter Nomar Mazara doubled to right-center. Beltre stopped at third.  Robinson Chirinos grounded out to drive in Beltre with the Rangers’ first run. Second baseman Rougned Odor singled to drive in Mazara with the second run of the inning. A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy nailed Odor as he tried to steal second. Ryan Rua Singled and advanced to third when Graveman issued a walk to Drew Robinson. Rua attempted to steal third, but Lucroy gunned him down.

With one out in the top of the third, Rangers’ first baseman Joey Gallo took Graveman deep for his second dinger of the year and put the Rangers ahead 3-0. The A’s cut the deficit to two when Chad Pinder, playing in left, hit his first home run of the year. The A’s trail 3-1 after three complete.

Graveman could not shut down the Rangers in the top of the fourth. Nomar Mazara singled to start the frame. Graveman didn’t help his cause when he uncorked a wild pitch that allowed Mazara to advance into scoring position. Graveman got Robinson Chirinos to ground out, and Mazara was held at second. Rougned Odor then singled to drive in Mazara with the Rangers’ fourth run.

There was no more scoring the rest of the way. Both bullpens did their jobs after the starting pitchers exited the contest. The Rangers win 4-1 to even the series at one apiece.

Game Notes- Rangers starter Cole Hamels went five innings and allowed one run and just four hits while walking three and striking out eleven A’s hitters. Hamels threw 94 pitches in his five innings of work, and his record stands at 1-1. The A’s starter Kendall Graveman did not pitch well for the second game in a row, Graveman’s also went five innings, but he gave up four runs and 8 hits. He issued one free pass and struck out just one hitter.  He gave up a home run to Joey Gallo in the third inning. Graveman’s record is now 0-1.

A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy had an outstanding evening on defense. Lucroy threw out three men attempting to steal and tagged a runner out at home after he tried to score from first on a double to left. The A’s offense could not get anything going. They scored just one run, and they did not have an inning in which they had more than one hit. They had eight hits in the game, one in each inning except the sixth. Chad Pinder was the only A’s player that did anything against Hamels as he had a double and a home run.

The Rangers and A’s have an identical won-loss record as they both are now 2-4 for 2018. The Series is tied at one apiece. Game three Wednesday night will feature left Sean Manaea going for Oakland, and the veteran righty Doug Fister will hurl for Texas. Game time will be at 7:05 pm.

Time of game was two hours and fifty minutes. There were 9,157 fans at the ballpark Tuesday night. It was the second-lowest attendance since May 3rd, 2010. The lowest since that time was last night.

A’s come out on top with 3-1 win over Rangers in nail-biter

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Photo credit: @Athletics

By Jerry Feitelberg

OAKLAND — The Oakland A’s met the Texas Rangers for the first time this season Monday night at the Oakland Coliseum. Both teams entered the game with a record of 1-3. The A’s sent Andrew Triggs to the mound to handle the pitching chores. Triggs, now in his second year, pitched very well as he went five innings and allowed just one run and four hits. He did not get a decision, but the A’s rallied in the eighth to score two runs and win 3-1.

The Rangers sent Bartolo Colon out to pitch, and Colon also pitched extremely well. The 44-year-old master went six innings and was touched for just one run while giving up seven hits, He escaped jams in the fifth and sixth innings and he, too, did not get a decision.

The A’s started the scoring in the bottom of the third when third baseman Matt Chapman led off the inning with a home run over the right-center field wall. Bartolo Colon settled down and retired the next three hitters. The A’s lead 1-0 after three complete.

The Rangers threatened in the top of the fourth. With one out, Rangers’ catcher, Robinson Chirinos reached third when A’s right fielder Stephen Piscotty failed to catch the ball as he bounced off the wall. Triggs got Rougned Odor to pop out to Jed Lowrie for the second out. Ryan Rua, who had singled in the second inning, hit a line drive to center. A’s center fielder Boog Powell made a sensational diving catch to rob Rua of a hit and end the Ranger threat.

The Rangers tied the game in the top of the fifth. Triggs walked Drew Robinson to start the inning. Robinson stole second when Shin-Soo Chin struck out swinging. Rangers’ first baseman, Joey Gallo, followed with a single to drive in Robinson. The A’s, in their half of the fifth, had three solid singles but could not score. The key play in the inning came when A’s catcher Jonathan Lucroy tried to score from second on a Marcus Semien single to center. The throw home was on the mark, and while there was a collision between Lucroy and Chirinos, Chirinos was able to hold onto the ball for the out.

The A’s broke through in the seventh to plate two runs and take a 3-1 lead. The A’s had chances in the fifth and sixth, but could not get the key hit they needed to get the go-ahead run. Their fortunes changed in the seventh. With one out, Lucroy doubled to left-center. The new Ranger pitcher, Kevin Jepsen, retired Boog Powell for the second out and Lucroy advanced to third on the play. The next hitter, Marcus Semien walked. Ranger manager Jeff Banister brought in lefty Jake Diekman to pitch to Jed Lowrie. Banister wanted Lowrie hitting from the right side, but the strategy did not work as Lowrie doubled to drive in both Lucroy and Semien.

The A’s bullpen did its job as Ryan Buchter, Chris Hatcher, and Blake Treinen gave up just two hits and no runs in four innings of work. The A’s win 3-1.

Game Notes: With the win, the A’s improve to 2-3 while Texas falls to 1-4. The hitting stars for Oakland were Matt Chapman who hit his second homer of the season and Jed Lowrie who had a clutch two-out double in the eighth to drive in the winning runs.

The A’s meet the Rangers again Tuesday night for game two of the four-game series. Kendal Graveman will be on the hill for Oakland, and the Rangers’ will counter with the ace, lefty Cole Hamels.

Time of game was three hours and 10 minutes.  A sparse crowd of 7,416 was on hand to watch the heroes win and were able to go home with smiles on their faces.

Up Next: The A’s and Rangers meet again Tuesday night at 7:05 pm PT.

San Francisco Giants Podcast with Michael Duca: Posey’s ankle just fine–rips two doubles on Friday; plus more Giants news

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Photo credit: @NBCSGiants

On the San Francisco Giants podcast with Michael:

1 San Francisco Giants catcher Buster Posey is suffering an ankle injury that has kept him out of Thursday’s game. Posey had enough rest he looks regular season ready as he hit two doubles in Friday’s game.

2 Former Giant and current Texas Ranger pitcher Matt Moore offered to give his number 55 to incoming pitcher. Also, former Giant Tim Lincecum, who signed with the Rangers. Lincecum chose #44 instead and reflected on his late brother Sean, who passed away last month.

3 Lincecum sold his $2 million condo in downtown Seattle so he can go back to being a regular guy. Lincecum is now living in a house in Madison Park.

4 Giants pitcher Jeff Samardzija said he’s a big fan of Giants centerfielder Steve Duggar. Samardzija says Duggar “is fun to watch. What has been the biggest thrill about Duggar– his hitting or fielding?

5 San Francisco’s Mark Melancon has said he’s going through some discomfort when he throws. The Giants will be counting on Melancon to get healthy and close games.

Michael Duca does the San Francisco Giants podcasts each Friday for http://www.sportsradioservice.com