Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Daric Barton smacked a solo home run in the 11th inning and hit an RBI single in the 13th, lifting the Oakland Athletics over the Texas Rangers, 7-6, in the opener of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark.
Three Blown Saves Later, A’s Finally Hang On To Down Rangers
With the score tied at 6-6, Dustin Nippert (1-3) took over on the mound in the 13th for the Rangers. Landon Powell walked, stole second, moved to third on a groundout and crossed the plate on Barton's two-out base hit to right. The ball deflected off second baseman Ian Kinsler and into right field.
Eric Chavez went 2-for-4 and belted a two-run homer for the Athletics, who watched Dallas Braden pitch the second perfect game in club history during Sunday's 4-0 win over Tampa Bay.
Tyson Ross (1-0) gave up one run on five hits in three innings of relief to pick up his first win in the majors. Trevor Cahill allowed two runs on four hits in a 5 2/3-inning start for Oakland, which has won three in a row and five of six.
Josh Hamilton hit a two-run homer for the Rangers, who were coming off a four- game sweep of the Royals. David Murphy went 2-for-6 with a solo home run in defeat.
In the top of the 11th, Chris Ray took over on the hill for the Rangers. After recording two quick outs, Barton smacked an 0-1 fastball over the wall in right to give Oakland a 6-5 edge.
Ross came on in the home half to try to close game out for the A's. Murphy led off with a single, moved to second on a sacrifice bunt and crossed the plate on Julio Borbon's two-out bloop single to left. Elvis Andrus grounded into a fielder's choice to send the tilt into the 12th tied at six.
Texas had a man thrown out at home in the 12th. Vladimir Guerrero hit a two- out single and was replaced by pinch-runner Andres Blanco, who was tagged out at home while trying to score on Kinsler's single to right.
Blanco’s mistake proved to be costly, as the A’s won the game in the 13th.
Down 3-2, Texas scored twice in the eighth to go in front. Brad Ziegler started the frame with a quick out but hit Michael Young with a pitch. Hamilton stepped to the plate and smacked a first-pitch changeup over the wall in right-center field.
Oakland responded with two runs in the top of the ninth to move back in front. Darren Oliver, who tossed a perfect eighth, stayed on to pitch the ninth. Chavez reached base on shortstop Andrus' fielding error and was replaced by Gabe Gross. Adam Rosales singled to left and made his way around first, as Gross slid into third. Rosales was thrown out at first after straying too far from the base.
Neftali Feliz came in from the bullpen and immediately hit pinch-hitter Jake Fox with a pitch. Powell then hit an RBI single to left to tie the game, and Rajai Davis followed with a single to load the bases. Cliff Pennington drove in the go-ahead run with base hit to right.
Texas, though, plated a run in the bottom half to deadlock the game at five. Andrew Bailey, who brought a career-high 21 2/3-inning scoreless streak into the contest, took over on the hill. Justin Smoak walked, advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt and third on a groundout and scored on Andrus' base hit up the middle. Young popped out to send the tilt into extras.
The Rangers broke a scoreless tie with a run in the third. Andrus worked a two-out walk, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on Young’s base hit to left.
Murphy’s homer to right in the fourth made it a 2-0 contest.
After Lewis pitched four perfect innings to start the game, Oakland got on the board in the fifth. Kevin Kouzmanoff led off the frame with a single to center. Chavez then stepped to the plate and blasted a first-pitch fastball over the wall in center to make it 2-2.
The A’s scored a run in the seventh to take a 3-2 edge. Chavez led off with a base hit and crossed the plate two batters later on Patterson’s triple to right. Lewis retired two of the next three batters to limit the damage.
The A’s won two of three against Texas in Oakland last week to open the season series...Chavez hit his first home run since June 17, 2008 at Arizona...Andrus extended his hitting streak to 11 games...Powell’s stolen base in the 13th was the first of his career...Despite the loss, the Rangers have won eight of their last 11 games...Texas has had 15 consecutive games decided by three runs-or-less since an 8-4 win on April 25 versus Detroit...The A’s started a six-game road trip on Tuesday...Oakland went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position and stranded 12...The Rangers went 3-for-10 with RISP and left nine men on...Ziegler, Bailey, and Ross suffered blown saves for the Athletics, while Feliz took a blown save for Texas.
See More:
