Athletics drop final night game to the Rangers, 5-1

No late inning magic tonight!

After a thrilling walk-off victory last night against Texas, the Oakland Athletics played their final night game at the Coliseum tonight against the American League West rival Rangers. Game two of the series featured a pair of 26-year-old lefties; Brady Basso for the A’s and Cody Bradford for the Rangers.

The Rangers jumped out to a lead quickly, in fact before even the first out was recorded. Marcus Semien singled to lead off the game and Wyatt Langford homered to give the defending World Champions a 2-0 lead. Jonah Heim walked and Aroldis Garcia and Nathaniel Lowe each singled to drive in another. Basso, however, was able to shut the door with three consecutive outs to end the top of the first. Moving to the bottom of the first, the Rangers had a 3-0 lead.

Lawrence Butler led off with a single. Brent Rooker snapped his 0-18 streak with a hard single to short, moving Butler to second. But Bradford was able to strike out two of the next three batters to end the inning.

With two outs in the bottom of the second Aroldis Garcia broke in initially on a ball over his head, and by the time he got the ball back into the infield, Cameron was standing on third with his first triple of the year. The number nine batter, Darell Hernaiz, singled up the middle to drive Cameron in.

Jonah Heim led off the third with a single, and Aroldis Garcia made amends for his fielding error with a no-doubt homer to left. That brought the Rangers lead to 5-1.

The A’s mounted a rally in the bottom of the third. With two outs Tyler Nevin singled and moved to second on a wild pitch. Zack Gelof walked, and Tyler Soderstrom reached on a fielding error to load the bases. But last night’s hero Jacob Wilson couldn’t recapture the magic and ended the inning by grounding into a force out. Joe Boyle replaced Basso after he completed three innings. Basso gave up five earned runs. His downfall was the two two-run homers.

With two outs in the bottom of the fourth, Lawrence Butler singled for his second hit of the game, and Brent Rooker walked, moving Butler to second. Shea Langeliers battled for a walk to load the bases. Texas skipper Bruce Bochy saw enough and removed Bradford for Cody Festa. Seth Brown pinch hit for Tyler Nevin and popped out to shallow centerfield to end the threat. For the second consecutive inning the A’s left the bases loaded.

Hogan Harris entered the game in the top of the seventh and threw two strong innings, walking one and striking out five Rangers.

Grant Holman shut the Rangers down in the ninth giving the A’s one last shot at a comeback victory. But it was not meant to be. The final night game in the storied history of the Oakland Coliseum went to the Texas Rangers, 5-1.

Many of the players stuck around and savored the moment and kept the fans’ attention who seemed in little hurry to leave. They signed autographs, tossed baseballs into the stands, and even brought their families onto the field. Even the grounds crew sensed the fans affection and filled water bottles and Ziplock bags with infield and warning track dirt.

Tomorrow the A’s will host the Rangers for their final game at the Coliseum.