Oakland A’s unable to hold lead vs. Texas Rangers, face Max Scherzer next
OAKLAND — Travis Jankowski hit a game-winning RBI groundout in the eighth inning, and Leody Taveras followed with a sacrifice fly, as the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 5-3 on Monday night.
Texas tied it in the seventh on an error by pitcher Kirby Snead while covering first and attempting to catch a throw from first baseman Tyler Soderstrom, allowing Jankowski to score. He came through again in the next inning, this time against Dany Jiménez (0-1).
For the A’s, who had two impressive wins over the San Francisco Giants over the weekend Bay Bridge Series, Zack Gelof hit a two-run double in the third inning and Nick Allen also doubled home a run.
Texas ended its six-game winning streak from July 14 to 19 with a two-run double in the top of the fourth.
Still, A’s starter Ken Waldichuk had a good night, striking out seven batters, tying a season high. He threw the most innings in a game since April 12 in Baltimore, when he threw 6 1/3 innings.
“That’s the type of performance we know he’s capable of,” Waldichuk’s manager, Mark Kotsay, said. “He did everything really well tonight.”
In his first appearance since April 16, Jiménez allowed a hit and two earned runs in the eighth inning. Jiménez was activated off the injured list on Saturday with a strained right shoulder after being placed on the 60-day DL on April 19.
The Rangers won despite failing to clear the fences. They had hit multiple home runs in six straight games to start August — 17 in total — to match the franchise record.
Aroldis Chapman struck out the side in the eighth inning before Will Smith finished for his 21st save. Josh Sborz (5-4) relieved Rangers starter Dane Dunning and pitched the seventh inning for the win.
After retiring the first seven A’s in order, Dunning walked Tony Kemp in the third, setting up Nick Allen’s RBI double.
Rangers infielder After being held out on Sunday, Corey Seager returned to the lineup. He was activated from the injured list last week due to a thumb injury.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Rangers: 3B rookie Josh Jung will have surgery this week after breaking his left thumb in Sunday’s 6-0 home win over Miami, but manager Bruce Bochy remains optimistic about Jung’s return this season. Jung was examined in Arizona by specialist Dr. Donald Sheridan, who determined he needed surgery to stabilize the injury at the base of his thumb, and the procedure is tentatively scheduled for Wednesday. He will most likely be out for at least six weeks. Texas called up INF Jonathan Ornelas from Triple-A Round Rock to replace Jung. … RHP Nathan Eovaldi (forearm strain) threw 60-70 pitches from 100 feet out. … C Jonah Heim, the former A’s switch-hitter who has been out with a strained tendon in his left wrist, caught and took swings off the tee from the left side. “He’s coming along nicely,” said Bochy.
Athletics: 1B Ryan Noda, who was scheduled to face live hitting Tuesday before possibly beginning a rehab assignment, requires more time but has been medically cleared to play games again if he is comfortable given the fracture is healing well. “That’s a difficult situation for Ryan, I think, but we’re going to do our best to assess it over the next two days,” manager Mark Kotsay said.
UP NEXT
RHP Max Scherzer (10-4, 4.04 ERA) makes his second start for the Rangers since being acquired from the Mets before the trade deadline. LHP JP Sears (2-8, 4.07) makes his team-leading 23rd start for the A’s, and is the only pitcher in the rotation.
