Athletics drop finale to Rangers 6-4

Miller’s 2-inning outing ends badly

The Oakland Athletics went for the win today in Arlington, Texas against the American League West rival Texas Rangers. After a commanding 9-2 victory Friday, the A’s dropped yesterday’s game 3-2, setting up the rubber match today. Mitch Spence took the mound for the A’s this afternoon against Walter Pennington, a 26-year-old rookie lefthander who made his first career start.

A pair of doubles off Spence got the scoring started in the bottom of the first. Corey Seager doubled to right field. With two down, Adolis García doubled to centerfield to score Seager. But Adolis García was caught stealing third base, thanks to a great throw by catcher Shea Langeliers.

Pennington faced only six baters in the A’s lineup before Bruce Bochy went to the bullpen. Righty José Ureña entered in relief. With two down in the top of the third, Lawrence Butler extended his hit streak to eleven games with a double to centerfield. Brent Rooker singled to left field to move Butler to third. But Shea Langeliers bounced into a force at second to end the inning.

Justin Foscue walked to lead off the bottom of the third. Marcus Semien walked moving Foscue to second. A force out moved Foscue to third and then he scored on a Josh Smith single to right. Spence got Adolis García to strike out swinging to end the inning. At the end of three, the Rangers led 2-0.

With one out in the fourth, Daz Cameron and Seth Brown each singled. But Ureña was able to get Gelof and Schuemann to end the threat. Wyatt Langford walked to get the fourth inning started for the Rangers. Josh Jung singled to left. Carson Kelly grounded into a double play, moving Langford to third. But Justin Foscue flew quietly out to center to end the inning.

Jacob Wilson doubled to left field to open the inning. It was the first extra-base hit of Wilson’s career. Butler kept it going with a base hit, moving Wilson to third with no outs. Brent Rooker singled to right, scoring Wilson easily and moving Butler to second. Langeliers grounded into a double play, erasing Rooker but moving Butler to third. Pinch hitter Tristan Gray walked putting runners of first and third. Daz Cameron grounded into a force out to end the inning. But the A’s got one, making the score 2-1. With two down, Corey Seager hit his second double of the day. Josh Smith grounded out to shut down the threat.

Zak Gelof singled with one out against Ureña and promptly stole second. He moved to third on a wild pitch by Ureña. But Wilson grounded out for the third out, stranding Gelof at third. Ross Stripling replaced Spence in the bottom of the sixth and on the second pitch drove a double off the wall in right. Wyatt Langford singled to move García to third. Carson Kelly walked to load the bases. Max Schuemann threw out García at home on a force play and Leody Tavares flew out to center to get Stripling out of his jam.

Lawrence Butler led off the seventh with his third hit of the day and immediately stole second. Rooker lined sharply to center for the first out. Langeliers grounded out short to first for the second out. Butler moved to third on the play. Armando Alvarez pinch hit Gray. He lined out to Seager to end the inning.

T.J. McFarland entered the game to pitch the bottom of the seventh inning. McFarland sent the Rangers down 1-2-3.

Zack Gelof doubled for his second hit of the game. With two outs, Max Scheumann tied the score with a single, scoring Gelof. Michel Otañez replaced McFarland in the bottom of the eighth. He struck out the side in order.

With the score tied headed to the ninth, Bruce Bochy sent José Leclerc to the mound. With one out Butler singled for his fourth hit of the game. Not to be outdone, Rooker got his fourth hit of the game, moving Butler to third with the potential winning run of the game. Shea Langeliers blew the opportunity once again with his second double play to end the inning. With the game still tied, Mason Miller entered the game in the bottom of the ninth. Miller got two quick outs before Tavares singled on a bloop to center. But Marcus Semien grounded into a force at second to end the ninth.

Langeliers was the placed runner on second to start the inning. JJ Bleday who had entered as a defensive replacement struck out for the first out of the tenth. With two outs, Seth Brown tripled to score Langeliers. Gelof kept the fun going with a double into left field, scoring Brown and giving the A’s a 4-2 lead.

Mason Miller remained in the game for the start of the Rangers half of the tenth. Corey Seager led off the inning with Marcus Semien the placed runner on second. Seager struck out on a 100.8 mph fastball. Josh Smith flied out for the second out of the inning. Garcia singled to drive in Semien closing the gap to 4-3. Pinch runner Travis Jankowski stole second bringing the tying run into scoring position. Wyatt Langford walked putting runners on first and second. Josh Jung hit his fifth homer of the season, a three-run shot to walk off the A’s and hand Miller the loss.

The A’s will head home now after a 3-3 road trip to face the Seattle Mariners in a Labor Day night matchup.