The A’s spring training continued today at Surprise Stadium as the Athletics faced off against the Texas Rangers. The A’s entered today having won five straight and scored fifty-one runs in those victories. Could they keep this offensive barrage alive?
J.T. Ginn got the start today for the A’s against Jack Leiter for Texas.
Max Muncy got the scoring started in the first with a 440 ft. bomb to left centerfield for his third homer of the spring.
That staked
Ginn to a 1-0 lead before he even took the mound. That lead didn’t last. In the bottom of the second, Ginn’s former batterymate Willie MacIver drove in three with a bases loaded double. That was all for Ginn, who gave way to Ryan Magdic*. A Wyatt Langford 3-run blast brought the score to 6-1 that same inning.
Henry Bolte hit his second homer of the spring to deep left field to inch the A’s closer, 6-2. The A’s scored two more in the top of the sixth on an RBI single by Leo De Vries and a ground out by Colby Thomas. That brought the score to 6-4.
In the top of the seventh, Brian Serven hit a sacrifice fly, Bobby Blandford scored. In the bottom of the inning, former A’s veteran Jonah Bride reached on a throwing error by third baseman Jared Sprague-Lott allowing Trevor Hauver to score.
In the top of the eighth, Breyson Guedez reaches on a fielding error by shortstop Tyler Wade. Michael Stefanic singled, driving in Breyson Guedez from second. The rally ended with Stefanic caught attempting to steal second. The A’s attempted to mount a ninth inning rally but fell short, ending the five-game winning streak 7-6 to the Rangers.
*Ginn returned and ended up pitching 4.2 innings, giving up four earned runs on four hits and three walks. He struck out five.
