Athletics beat Rangers behind Sears’ gem 1-0

A’s take two of three against reigning champions

The Oakland Athletics faced the Texas Rangers today in the rubber match of the 3-game series at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas. A’s lefty hurler JP Sears faced righty Jon Gray for Texas.

The A’s went down quickly and quietly with three straight strikeouts in the top of the first. JP Sears, who throws from the stretch no matter if there are any baserunners or not, walked the lead-off batter Marcus Semien, who quickly stole second base. Semien took third on a deep fly ball to left fielder Seth Brown. Adolis García struck out to end the inning.

Seth Brown took the second pitch he saw this afternoon deep and just inside the right field foul pole for his first homer of the year and a 1-0 lead for the A’s.

In the top of the third inning, Kyle McCann singled for his first major league hit. Abraham Toro singled, moving McCann to second. But on the eleventh pitch of the at-bat JJ Bleday grounded out to shortstop Marcus Semien to end the inning.

After a leadoff walk to Lawrence Butler in the top of the fifth inning, and then a quick stolen base (his first this season) putting Butler on second with no outs, Gray promptly struck out the sides for the second time today. Lefty Jacob Latz entered the game in the top of the sixth to face the heart of the A’s lineup. Latz made quick work of the six batters he faced.

Sears entered the bottom of the seventh with no hits, five K’s and just three walks. But the second batter of the inning, Adolis García singled to left. With the no-no ended, A’s skipper Mark Kotsay pulled the plug on Sears’ excellent outing. The Rangers entered the game batting .301 against lefties, but Sears held them to one hit in 19 AB’s. Austin Adams replaced Sears in the inning and plunked today’s DH Jonah Heim. The A’s ended the inning with an unconventional double play. With pinch hitter Jared Walsh at bat, he hit a bloop to Zack Gelof right near the mound, but Gelof dropped it. Adams then tossed it to third baseman Toro who completed the double play with a throw to shortstop Hernaiz. The Rangers, including manager Bruce Bochy, were stunned by the play that ended the inning.

Lucas Erceg threw a hitless, scoreless eighth inning for the A’s. Seth Brown got his second extra-base-hit of the season dropping a bloop double in front of center fielder Leody Taveras. Brown’s hustle turned it from a single to a double. But Ryan Noda lined out to right to end the inning.

Mason Miller came into the bottom of the ninth looking for his second 2024 save. Three consecutive sliders sent Marcus Semien to the bench. Miller switched it up with Corey Seager, sending him to the bench with four 100+mph fastballs. Miller hit 104 mph while battling Rangers rookie Wyatt Langford. Gelof squeezed the mile-high pop-up to end the game.

This victory gave the A’s two-straight road series victories and bring them back to Oakland with a 4-2 road series.