September 21, 2024

The Rangers earn a walk-off win the ninth inning as Leody Taveras delivers a walk-off single.

Texas’s Arlington (AP) – On Saturday night, the Texas Rangers defeated the Oakland Athletics 3-2 thanks to a game-winning single by Leody Taveras in the ninth inning with one out.

Taveras grounded a single over the middle and beyond a drawn-in infield, loading the bases and driving pinch-runner Ezequiel Duran home with the game-winning run.

Athletics reliever Tyler Ferguson (2-2), who struck out the side after coming on in the eighth, hit Nathaniel Lowe with a pitch to start the ninth. Carson Kelly reached on a bloop single and Travis Jankowski drew a four-pitch walk with one out. Duran replaced Lowe at second base after Kelly’s single.

All-Star closer Kirby Yates (6-2) worked around a single and a walk in a scoreless ninth.

The reigning World Series champion Rangers (64-71), who last year led the American League with 5.43 runs per game, were held to four or fewer for the sixth game in a row and the 12 time in their last 15 games. They are 23-16 in one-run games, and have won their last six games decided by a single run.

Jonah Heim’s 12th homer was a two-run shot in the second inning that put Texas up 2-0.

In the fourth inning, Lawrence Butler lined a ball with an exit velocity of over 112 mph and narrowly avoided the 8-foot-high wall in right field to become Oakland’s fourth player with 20 home runs this season. Following consecutive doubles by Butler and Brent Rooker—who had hit two home runs in Friday night’s series opener—the A’s knotted the game in the sixth inning.

The A’s have scored 24 of their 34 runs on this road trip thanks to 16 deep balls in their last five games. They have used home runs to score an MLB-high 50.9% of their runs (283 of 556).

Texas lefty Cody Bradford tied his career high with eight strikeouts over seven innings, while Oakland rookie right-hander Joey Estes struck out seven in six innings. Both starters allowed two runs, and neither walked a batter.

TRAINER´S ROOM

Athletics: Manager Mark Kotsay said LHP Scott Alexander (left rotator cuff tendinitis) could face some hitters Monday when the team gets home before it’s determined whether he needs a rehab assignment. Alexander, whose last game was Aug. 17, came out feeling OK about a bullpen session Friday.

Rangers: Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer said he has determined what has caused the nerve issue in his triceps and he is ready to go on rehab to get prepared to pitch again this season. … Jacob deGrom (elbow surgery) is set to start Sunday for Triple-A Round Rock. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is then expected to make another rehab start next Saturday. If all goes well, the 36-year-old right-hander could then pitch in the majors for the first time since April 28, 2023.

UP NEXT

Rookie right-hander Mitch Spence (7-9, 4.54 ERA), who was 0-3 with a 4.78 ERA in five August starts, gets the ball Sunday for the A’s in the series finale. The Rangers hadn’t announced a scheduled starter.

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