Streaking! Texas Rangers Rally Past Athletics To Win Seventh Straight

The Texas Rangers won their seventh consecutive game Monday in Oakland to improve to a season-high 21 games above .500.

The Texas Rangers manufactured two runs in the eighth inning to snap a tie and beat the Oakland Athletics 5-3 Monday at Oakland Coliseum.

The Rangers (67-46) have won a season-high seven consecutive games and are a season-best 21 games above .500. It's the first time the club has been 21 games above .500 since finishing the 2016 season 95-67.

They increased their lead by a half-game to three games on the idle Houston Astros in the AL West.

It's the first seven-game winning streak for Texas since June 16-23, 2018.

Johnathan Ornelas scores as a pinch runner in his MLB debut to give the Rangers the lead!@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/C28hUxuZuf

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) August 8, 2023

With the game tied at 3-3, the Rangers scored twice in the eighth to take their first lead. Mitch Garver singled and Robbie Grossman walked to start the rally. Ezequiel Duran's sacrifice bunt moved both into scoring position. Jonathan Ornelas, pinch-running for Garver, scored on Travis Jankowski's fielder's choice to second baseman Zack Gelof, who threw home despite having no chance to get Ornelas. Grossman scored on Leody Taveras's sac fly to center to provide the two-run cushion.

The A's (32-81), who have the worst record in the majors, led 3-0 lead after scoring three runs in the third on a pair of doubles by Nick Allen and Gelof against Rangers starter Dane Dunning.

Garver drove in two with a double in the fourth to draw Texas to within a run. Garver doubled again in the sixth and was 3 for 4, his first three-hit game in 2023.

2 RUNS FROM GARVER!
@Rangers | #StraightUpTX | 📺: BSSW pic.twitter.com/eaxyyu2Mkm

— Bally Sports Southwest (@BallySportsSW) August 8, 2023

In the seventh, the Rangers tied it at 3-3 when Nathaniel Lowe reached a tapper to first base. Pitcher Kirby Snead, covering first, was charged with an error when he dropped the toss from Tyler Soderstrom. Travis Jankowski, who walked to start the inning, scored the tying run on the play. Marcus Semien, who walked in the inning, was stranded at third when Adolis Garcia flew out to the end inning.

Rangers 5, Athletics 3

Here are the key moments from the Rangers' win in Oakland Monday night:

Double Their Pleasure

The Rangers collected five doubles Monday, including two by Mitch Garver and one apiece from Corey Seager, Robbie Grossman, and Adolis Garcia. Texas leads the majors with 247 doubles, one more than the Red Sox. 

A Tale Of Two Offenses

The Rangers have led the majors in total hits for much of the season. They have 1,067 as of Monday's seven-hit game, 45 more than the second-place Blue Jays. Oakland, on the other hand, has the fewest hits in the majors with 826.

The Rangers continue to lead the league with 653 runs scored, 16 more than the second-place Dodgers.

The A's have scored an MLB-low 406 runs, 31 fewer runs than the second-worst Tigers.

Lastly, the Rangers lead the majors with a .272 team batting average while the A's are last at .223.

Dane Dunning Does Enough

Despite a three-run third inning, Rangers starter Dane Dunning held the A's to three runs on five hits and three walks in six innings. He struck out six.

Bullpen By Numbers

The Rangers have found a groove in the bullpen lately. Josh Sborz, Aroldis Chapman, and Will Smith pitched scoreless innings in the seventh, eighth, and ninth to hold onto Monday's lead.

Combined, they allowed one hit, two walks, and struck out five, including Chapman striking out the side in the eighth.

Up Next

Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (10-4, 4.04) makes his second start for the club in Game 2 at 8:40 p.m. Tuesday. He'll face left-hander JP Sears (2-8, 4.07).

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You can follow Stefan Stevenson on Twitter @StefanVersusTex.

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