Texas rallied from a four-run deficit on Friday night to beat the Oakland Athletics 7-6 on Jonathan Lucroy’s two-run single with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning. “That’s something that I’ve got to correct, because that’s something that doesn’t go over very well when you get to the postseason”. “I’m pretty confident that things are going in the right direction, just with how my last bullpen (session) went”, Hamels said.
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In two starts, Alcantara has given up seven runs on 12 hits including two homers over 8.2 innings. He pitched solidly in his last turn against the Angels despite settling for a no-decision after giving up one run and three hits while striking out nine in 6 2/3 innings. It was Davis’ eighth homer, to go with 21 RBI, in 13 games against Texas this season. Pinch runner Joey Gallo stole second to move the winning run in scoring position, and Lucroy’s single down the left field line scored the tying and winning runs. “Whoever pitches in the game, you don’t want to walk as many guys as I’ve walked”, Hamels told reporters. “I was able to sneak one past the third baseman”. A single and walk set up the two-out homer, which pushed Oakland’s lead to 6-2. “When I got the pitches I wanted to hit, I didn’t miss them”. The 23-year-old lasted just three innings while being roughed up for five runs and five hits by the Los Angeles Angels in his big-league debut on September 5 before bouncing back to allow two runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 frames against the Mariners. Rangers have hit homers in 17 consecutive games, matching the longest stretch this season and tied for fourth longest in club history.
Rangers: RF Shin-Soo Choo, on the disabled list since August 16 with a broken left forearm, will begin swinging a bat, but no date has been established for his return.
The Rangers expect to be without reliever Tony Barnette until the final week of the regular season as he recovers from a strained left oblique muscle, manager Jeff Banister said on Friday.
Texas had a run taken off the scoreboard in the third inning. The Rangers had the bases loaded with two outs in the eighth after a single, walk and E6 but Gomez grounded out hard to second to end the inning. Desmond reached first base as Mitch Moreland crossed home plate. The Rangers had dropped four of six before getting back in the win column with a 9th inning rally. However, Desmond was called out because Carlos Gomez slid wide of second base to hit second baseman Joey Wendle. His blast to left in the sixth opened up a 6-2 lead for Oakland.
Athletics: Rookie RHP Raul Alcantara (0-1, 7.27) will start the second game of the three-game series on Saturday.
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Rangers: RHP Yu Darvish (5-4, 3.28) is scheduled to pitch for Texas Saturday on seven days’ rest.
