The Texas Rangers scored nine runs while the Formerly Oaklands scored three runs.
The Rangers were facing a starting pitcher making his MLB debut tonight. That usually goes one of two ways. Either the rookie feels the nerves of their first big league action and gets pummeled or the newcomer baffles his opponents in their first look at him.
Luckily for Texas, it was pretty much the former. Though the debuting righty Mason Barnett made it through his first ever inning in easy 1-2-3 fashion, by the end
of his four-inning stint, the Athletics’ callup had allowed five Rangers runs.
Meanwhile, Texas turned to veteran Merrill Kelly and the gulf in experience between the two starters was felt as Kelly allowed two solo home runs in the third inning, and a run in the seventh, but kept the Athletics off the board otherwise to earn his second win since coming over at the trade deadline.
Perhaps the Rangers are also lucky to have run into the Athletics in extra give-up mode as it has allowed them to pick up some wins and stay within striking distance of the playoff chase. With four wins in a row, Texas is back to three games above .500 — a mark they haven’t been since they were 60-57 to open the second week of August — and are also now just 2.5 games out of a Wild Card spot.
Who knows? Stranger things have happened. Though the Rangers are as beat up as they’ve been all year, they’ve assured themselves that they will reach September with games that matter.
Player of the Game: Josh Jung has been the poster boy for a lot that has gone wrong for the Rangers this season, but tonight Jung went 3-for-5 with a couple of doubles, two runs scored, and two RBI.
Over the last two weeks, Jung is rocking a slash line of .347/.385/.490 to become one of the main catalysts of this current successful stretch.
Up Next: The Rangers will close out August with an opportunity to sweep the A’s with Jacob deGrom on the mound. Meanwhile, the Northern California squad will turn to RHP J.T. Ginn in the finale.
The Sunday afternoon first pitch from Sutter Health Park is scheduled for 3:05 pm CT and will be aired on the Rangers Sports Network.
