Final
Athletics-Rangers Preview
Sep 13, 2015 - 6:27 AM The Texas Rangers have failed to take advantage of the AL West's bottom two teams as the division's best sputters in Anaheim.The last-place Oakland Athletics have had Texas' number all season and will try to further damage its division chances in Sunday's series finale in Arlington.
The Rangers (74-67) have dropped 10 of 15 against Oakland this season, losing three of the first four series and splitting the other. Saturday night's 5-3 defeat was Texas' third loss in four days to the A's and Seattle, the division's bottom two teams.
Meanwhile, AL West-leading Houston dropped the first two games of a series against the Los Angeles Angels, tightening the division race. The Astros maintain a 1 1/2-game lead over Texas while their advantage over the Angels is down to 3 1/2.
The Rangers host Houston for a critical four-game series this week.
Rookie Chi Chi Gonzalez was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock and will make his 10th start for the Rangers Sunday.
Gonzalez (2-5, 4.25 ERA) opened his career with wins in consecutive scoreless outings in late-May and early-June, but he is winless in seven starts since, while spending most of July and August in the minors. The right-hander is 0-5 with a 5.80 ERA over his last seven outings with the Rangers, and he will make his first start since Aug. 18.
Oakland is responsible for two of Gonzalez's losses, beating him 7-0 on June 11 and 8-6 on June 23. Gonzalez allowed just one run in seven innings in the first game, but surrendered six in 5 2-3 the second time around.
Though Texas is chasing the postseason, Gonzalez has already pitched a playoff game this year, tossing two perfect innings Wednesday in the Pacific Coast League semifinals during his rehab stint.
"I was fortunate enough to continue in the playoffs and play in September over there," Gonzalez told MLB's official website. "...and now I'm playing here, so hopefully I get to the October thing."
The A's (61-81) won for just the third time in 10 games Saturday and won't play past the first weekend in October this year. They'll try to win consecutive series for the first time since June when they send Felix Doubront to the mound.
Doubront (3-1, 4.22) has plugged a hole for an injury-depleted Oakland staff after his acquisition from Toronto at the trade deadline. He was inserted into the rotation after two long relief outings and has a 3.60 ERA in four starts.
Oakland won each of those games, and Doubront picked up wins in the last two despite surrendering four runs in each. The A's offense picked him up in an 11-5 victory over the Angels on Aug. 31 and a 10-9 win over Houston on Monday.
Doubront has never seen success against the Rangers, losing all four of his starts with a 10.69 ERA. Texas, though, has struggled against lefties this year, the latest example Saturday's loss to Oakland southpaw Sean Nolin in which Texas mustered five hits and a run off him in 5 2-3 innings.
"They've been a challenge for us for most of the year," Texas manager Jeff Banister told MLB's official website. "To get to where we want to go, we've got to be able to compete against left-handers, we've got to be able to swing the bat against left-handers, we've got to be able to drive in runs against left-handers."
- OAKLAND: 4
TEXAS: 12
Final
Sep 13 7:02 PM - Odor homered to center on a 2-2 count, Napoli scored, Andrus scored.
Athletics 4, Rangers 12 Bot 8, 2 OutsSep 13 6:44 PM - Rougned Odor homers to center field. Elvis Andrus scores. Mike Napoli scores.
Athletics 4, Rangers 12 Bot 8, 2 OutsSep 13 6:44 PM - Shin-Soo Choo singles to center field. Delino DeShields scores.
Athletics 3, Rangers 9 Bot 6, 0 OutsSep 13 5:25 PM - B.Butler hit an infield single to third, Valencia scored.
Athletics 3, Rangers 8 Top 6, 2 OutsSep 13 5:18 PM - Billy Butler singles to shallow left field. Danny Valencia scores.
Athletics 3, Rangers 8 Top 6, 2 OutsSep 13 5:17 PM - Valencia tripled to center, Semien scored, Reddick scored.
Athletics 2, Rangers 8 Top 6, 1 OutSep 13 5:11 PM - Danny Valencia triples to deep right center field. Josh Reddick scores. Marcus Semien scores.
Athletics 2, Rangers 8 Top 6, 1 OutSep 13 5:11 PM - Andrus singled to center, Fielder scored, Napoli scored, Moreland to second.
Athletics 0, Rangers 8 Bot 5, 1 OutSep 13 4:55 PM - Elvis Andrus singles to center field. Mitch Moreland to second. Mike Napoli scores. Prince Fielder scores.
Athletics 0, Rangers 8 Bot 5, 1 OutSep 13 4:55 PM - Beltre homered to center on a 2-1 count, Gimenez scored, Choo scored.
Athletics 0, Rangers 6 Bot 5, 1 OutSep 13 4:38 PM - Adrian Beltre homers to center field. Shin-Soo Choo scores. Chris Gimenez scores.
Athletics 0, Rangers 6 Bot 5, 1 OutSep 13 4:37 PM - Beltre homered to left on a 1-0 count, Choo scored.
Athletics 0, Rangers 3 Bot 4, 0 OutsSep 13 4:05 PM - Adrian Beltre homers to center field. Shin-Soo Choo scores.
Athletics 0, Rangers 3 Bot 4, 0 OutsSep 13 4:05 PM - Marcus Semien reaches on error. Fielding error by Adrian Beltre.
Sep 13 3:10 PM - OAKLAND: 0
TEXAS: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 13 3:09 PM
Related News
- Elephant Rumblings: Post-Christmas lull at full throttle Dec 26
- Tuesday Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 26
- Christmas Morning Texas Rangers Update Dec 25
- Garver to the M’s, per reports Dec 24
- Twas The Night Before Christmas... Dec 24
- Elephant Rumblings: Luis Morales a prospect to watch in 2024 Dec 24
- Christmas Eve Rangers things Dec 24
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Lawrence Butler Dec 23
- Saturday morning Rangers things Dec 23
- Elephant Rumblings: Giants Strike Out in Free Agency Once Again Dec 23
- 2023 Athletics Season in Review: Esteury Ruiz Dec 22
- Friday morning Rangers stuff Dec 22