Rangers 0 - 7 Athletics
Final
  for this game

Rangers rely on Chi Chi in rubber match with A's

Jun 11, 2015 - 11:07 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Chi Chi Gonzalez eyes a third straight impressive showing to start his big league career on Thursday when the Texas Rangers wrap up a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum.

Gonzalez carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and tossed 5 2/3 scoreless innings in his major league debut, then was even better his second time out, tossing a three-hit shutout to beat the Kansas City Royals.

"It's incredible," said Gonzalez, who's won both of his starts and has yet to allow a run in 14 2/3 innings. "From first pitch to the last pitch, it was a lot of fun. It has been a good time."

While Gonzalez is thriving, Oakland's Scott Kazmir has been struggling and has not won in nine starts. After missing a start due to shoulder soreness, Kazmir lost to the Boston Red Sox on Friday, as he surrendered four runs (3 earned) and nine hits in 4 2/3 innings to fall to 2-4 to go along with a 3.14 ERA.

He allowed the leadoff man to reach in four of five innings, and each of them scored -- though three defensive miscues behind him, one of which led to an unearned run, didn't help his cause.

"I don't actually look at that stuff," said Kazmir. "I look at the pitches I made, the hits I gave up. I've just got to be better out there. I will be next time."

Kazmir is 10-5 in 20 starts versus the Rangers with a 3.19 ERA.

Oakland snapped a four-game losing streak on Wednesday, as Josh Reddick drove in the winning run in the ninth to give the Athletics a 5-4 come-from-behind win.

Rangers starter Yovani Gallardo retired the final 10 batters he faced and was in line to earn the win, but Sam Freeman and Tanner Scheppers squandered the lead in the eighth because of a poor defensive play from Joey Gallo.

After Billy Burns grounded out on the first pitch he saw from Freeman, Reddick singled and Scheppers allowed a single to Ben Zobrist. Reddick went from first to third and Gallo misfired to second trying to get Zobrist advancing on the play, allowing Reddick to come home. Stephen Vogt was intentionally walked and Billy Butler tied the game with a single through the left side.

The Rangers went down in order in the ninth, then Oakland got something going with some speed in its half for the win.

Sam Fuld singled with one out off Keone Kela (4-3) and stole second before Burns legged out an infield single to put runners at the corners. Reddick stepped in and slapped a hard grounder to second as Burns beat the throw home.

"I felt like I was getting good jumps and felt confident I could get one," Fuld said of his pivotal stolen base.

Tyler Clippard (1-3) earned the win for tossing a scoreless ninth.

"Everyone went out there and did their job," A's reliever Pat Venditte said of the bullpen that held Texas scoreless after starter Jesse Hahn lasted just 3 2/3 innings.

It was only the second loss in Texas' last four games.






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