Walk off! A’s beat Rangers in series finale 4-3

We love a walk off

Down to their final few outs, the Athletics found a way to come back in the series finale against the Rangers, scoring two runs in the bottom of the ninth to beat Texas and walk off for the first time this year.

A’s strike first

On a cloudy and chilly night at Sutter Health Park the A’s and Rangers squared off for the final time in the first series between these two rivals. Facing former Cy Young Award winner Jacob deGrom the Athletics had their work cut out for them, even facing a deGrom past his prime. After a couple scoreless frames to open the game the A’s started to figure the veteran out and pieced together a little 2-out rally. New left fielder Tyler Soderstrom came to the plate with runners on the corners with two outs and delivered a line drive into the right-center gap for a 2-run double:

Third inning struggles for Ginn

With the series tied one apiece the Athletics sent rookie starting pitcher JT Ginn to the mound as he made his third start of the year for the club. The righty got off to a rough start as he loaded the bases in the top of the first but managed to escape with no damage done.

Texas finally started to get to the rookie in the fourth inning and they did it in epic fashion. Three separate solo home runs gave Texas the lead and chased the rookie from the game without finishing four innings. Lefty Hogan Harris came on in relief and put out the fire but the damage was done and the A’s were now looking at a comeback attempt.

The next four innings saw little action as the Athletics tried to claw back into this one. The bullpen did its job to keep this close as Harris, Noah Murdock, and Grant Holman combined for 5 ¹⁄₃ scoreless frames. The A’s offense collected hits in each of the next four innings but couldn’t manage to push them into scoring position. It would take a miracle ninth to win tonight and take the series.

Here comes the fun

Final three outs. Time to put the rally caps on. Going up against Texas closer Luke Jackson the A’s began the rally with a walk from Max Schuemann. Second baseman Luis Urias, who was 0-for-3 so far tonight, came to the plate and whacked a single to center field to put the winning run in scoring position. Or at least, that’s what it started out as. An error from Rangers center fielder Leody Taveras allowed both runners to advance an extra base, not only putting the tying run just ninety feet away but also the winning run in scoring position. The A’s would make them pay just two batters later as Jacob Wilson swatted a game-ending 2-RBI hit to finish the Rangers and this series off:

What a way to finish a baseball game. The Athletics managed to steal the series right out from under their rivals’ noses and now find themselves just two games back in the division. Granted, the A’s are still last and looking up at the other four teams but it’s close and a good week could see the A’s on top of the division.

That’s a wrap on the Rangers series but the home stand continues tomorrow evening. The A’s will welcome the Chicago White Sox to town for a weekend set. These two teams just saw each other last week when the Athletics swept Chicago on their home turf. The series will begin with a matchup between righties Luis Severino and Sean Burke. Let’s see if the team can remain undefeated against their AL Central foe.