Davis’ homers and three RBIs led the Athletics past Texas 5-2 on Sunday and kept the Rangers from moving closer to the AL West title. The shot was Davis’ 39th of the season. Getting built back up as far as his pitch count is Lewis’ priority now. The right-hander struck out eight but also walked four, including three batters in a row to start the second, to fall to 2-9 in 13 career starts against the A’s.
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Davis has 10 homers in 15 games against Texas, breaking Oakland’s single-season franchise record for homers against the Rangers. “Just not really like him”, A’s manager Bob Melvin said. Oakland is 6-4 in their last 10 games though and should have a ton of confidence heading into this one as the Rangers laid an egg at home for the first time in a long while. “Today I didn’t have it”, Darvish said through his interpreter. “I don’t know why 45 is out of the question”.
The Magic Number remains at 5 regardless of what happens in the game between the Mariners and Astros since those teams are tied for second place in the West.
The A’s tagged Darvish for a seven earned runs in five innings, which matched his career high.
Rangers veteran right-hander Colby Lewis (6-3) allowed three runs while throwing 92 pitches (48 strikes) in 5 1/3 innings in only his second start since a two-month stay on the disabled list because of a strained right lat. “At the same time, we’ve still got a couple more weeks”.
Texas got its runs with four consecutive hits off Detwiler with one out in the third. Ryan Dull worked the ninth for his third save of the season.Texas scored twice off Detwiler in the third on RBI singles from Delino DeShields and Ian Desmond.After Davis got Oakland on the board, it took advantage of control problems by Lewis to take the lead for good in the sixth.
Athletics: Since eight scoreless innings in his first start for Oakland, lefty Ross Detwiler is 1-3 with a 5.25 ERA his last seven games (six starts). The A’s went ahead when Renato Nunez greeted reliever Alex Claudio with a fielder’s choice grounder that drove in a run. “It’s uncalled for. I put that loss – it’s definitely on my back”. “I can’t say enough about the desire and commitment these guys still have to finishing out the season strong”. “If I did my job we’re having a different conversation”.
While already guaranteed consecutive losing seasons for the first time since 2007-09, the A’s (66-83) won two of three in Texas to wrap up a 6-1 road trip in which they scored 65 runs. Hamels has allowed at least six runs in three of his four starts, including the series opener Friday night against the A’s when he allowed six runs in six innings before the Rangers rallied to win the game with two outs in the ninth. Lewis made only one more start after that June start against the A’s before going on the DL.
NOTES: The Rangers are undecided on who will start Wednesday’s game against Los Angeles.
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Athletics: Oakland starts its final homestand of the season on Monday night against Houston.
