Overview:
The Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers 2-1, with Carlos Cortes driving in both runs with a two-out triple in the first inning. The Rangers pulled within a run in the sixth when Josh Jung doubled to open the inning and came around on a throwing error. The Athletics held off the Rangers despite losing starter J.T. Ginn to right arm soreness with one out in the fourth and a 2-0 lead. The Rangers finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base. The Athletics return home Tuesday for the opener of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals.
ARLINGTON, TEXAS — Carlos Cortes drove in both Athletics runs with a two-out triple in the first inning, and Justin Sterner escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the sixth as the Athletics held off the Texas Rangers 2-1 on Sunday at Globe Life Field.
Cortes connected on a 106.3 mph liner that bounced off the glove of center fielder Evan Carter on the warning track, scoring Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker. Both runners had drawn two-out walks from Kumar Rocker before Cortes split the gap.
The Athletics took the rubber game of the three-game series despite losing starter J.T. Ginn to right arm soreness with one out in the fourth and a 2-0 lead.
Texas pulled within a run in the sixth when Josh Jung doubled to open the inning and came around on a throwing error. Reliever Jacob Lopez fielded a half-swing sacrifice bunt off the bat of Evan Carter and sailed his throw past first baseman Nick Kurtz, allowing Jung to score from second. Lopez walked Jake Burger before turning the ball over to Sterner.
Sterner (1-2) surrendered a bunt single to Josh Smith that loaded the bases, then struck out Danny Jansen and Sam Haggerty. Brandon Nimmo flied out to center to end the threat. The right-hander pumped his fist on the way to the dugout.
Jack Perkins struck out one in a perfect ninth for his second save in two chances.
Rocker (1-2) allowed two runs on six hits with three strikeouts and two walks over six innings. The Texas right-hander has now turned in three quality starts through six appearances on the season.
The Rangers finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base. Texas struck out 10 times.
Jung went 2-for-4 with a pair of doubles to account for two of the Rangers’ six hits. Alejandro Osuna added a single in his only at-bat before being lifted for pinch-hitter Sam Haggerty in the fifth.
Brent Rooker returned to the Athletics lineup as the cleanup designated hitter after missing 14 games with a right oblique strain. The two-time All-Star went 0-for-4.
Kurtz drew an intentional walk from Texas reliever Jacob Gray in the ninth, extending his Athletics franchise record to 16 consecutive games with at least one walk.
The game was played in 2 hours, 47 minutes before an announced crowd of 32,031, with the retractable roof closed.
UP NEXT
The Rangers open a three-game series against the New York Yankees on Monday night at Globe Life Field. Right-hander Jack Leiter (1-1, 4.97 ERA) is scheduled to face left-hander Max Fried (3-1, 2.40).
The Athletics return home Tuesday for the opener of a three-game set against the Kansas City Royals. Left-hander Kris Bubic (2-1, 4.08) takes the mound for Kansas City. The Athletics had not announced their starter.