About Time! Texas Rangers Beat Athletics To Snap Losing Streak

The Texas Rangers struggled on offense, but they scored the game-winner late and now have a chance to win the Oakland Athletics series.

The Texas Rangers snapped a four-game losing streak by beating the Oakland Athletics 3-2 on Saturday night at Globe Life Field. 

The Rangers (77-64) are trying to remain in striking distance in both the American League West and Wild Card races. 

The Rangers started right-hander Nathan Eovaldi on three days' rest and he threw better than his last start against the Houston Astros on Tuesday. 

But Eovaldi was unable to get out of the third inning as he continues to try and stretch himself out after more than a month on the injured list. The bullpen picked up most of the slack, aside from giving up a two-run home run. 

The Rangers offense needed a spark and they got it from a lineup shakeup in the batting order.

Will Smith (2-5) took the victory for the Rangers, while Aroldis Chapman claimed his fifth save. Lucas Erceg (3-4) took the loss for the Athletics

Rangers 3, Athletics 2

Here are the highlights from the Rangers-Athletics game on Saturday.

Rangers Gets Offense Where They Can

The Rangers offense struggled to find any footing against an Oakland pitching staff that befuddled them for the first five innings of the game. Only Ezequiel Duran and Leody Taveras had hits in the first five frames, as A’s starter Sean Newcomb threw four scoreless innings. Kyle Muller followed with a scoreless fifth.

In the sixth, the Rangers finally broke through. Nathaniel Lowe’s RBI single scored Robbie Grossman. Leody Taveras’ RBI singled scored Mitch Garver.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy made adjustments to his batting order. He slotted Grossman in the third spot and started him in right field. Garver remained in the cleanup spot, but Lowe moved to the fifth spot.

Between the three they had three runs, two hits and six walks. It was just enough.

The Rangers regained the lead in the seventh on three consecutive walks by Grossman, Garver and Lowe off Francisco Perez. He then threw a wild pitch to score Grossman to make it 3-2 Texas.

Eovaldi Starts, Bullpen Finishes

Nathan Eovaldi made his second start since returning from the injured list and got into the third inning. But after giving up back-to-back singles with one out, he gave way to Martín Pérez in relief. Pérez loaded the bases but pitched out of the jam without damage.

Eovaldi threw 47 pitches, giving up three hits and two walks while fanning three. It represented progress after his outing against Houston on Tuesday.

Pérez threw 2 2/3 innings of one-hit shutout relief, followed by Chris Stratton. The Rangers kept the Athletics off the board until the seventh when Stratton gave up a two-run home run to Athletics rookie Zack Gelof. That tied the game at 2-2.

Will Smith and Aroldis Chapman combined to shut the door after that. 

Next Up

The Rangers and the Athletics wrap up their three-game series on Sunday at 1:35 p.m. when Rangers right-hander Jon Gray (8-7, 3.85) faces Athletics right-hander Luis Medina (3-8, 5.46). After the game, the Rangers head to Toronto for a four-game series with the Blue Jays, a series that now appears critical to the Rangers’ hopes of reaching the playoffs. 

You can find Matthew Postins on Twitter @PostinsPostcard.

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