Offense Falters as Texas Rangers Fall Short in Loss to Athletics
The Texas Rangers lost to the Oakland Athletics on Friday night in 5-4 fashion. Donning their Nike City Connect uniforms for the first time, the Rangers got off to a hot start and then ran into some trouble as starter Jon Gray began to struggle.
Gray pitched three strong innings before the trouble began in the fourth. He allowed an Athletics run in the fourth before giving up the lead in the sixth. The righty was then pulled after 5 1/3 innings pitched and four runs )three earned), allowing the Athletics to tie the game.
Manager Bruce Bochy then turned to the bullpen where Jonathan Hernandez, Brock Burke, Jose Leclerc and Will Smith combined for 3 2/3 innings of one-run ball.
The winning run came on a Jordan Diaz pinch-hit home run in the ninth off of Smith.
Smith was credited with the loss.
Offensively, catcher Jonah Heim continued his hot streak as he launched a three-run home run in the first inning to make it 4-0. Heim's home run travelled 396 feet and came off the bat at 103.4-mph.
Texas was unable to produce anymore runs after the first inning outburst.
Texas (12-7) will play again on Saturday night as they host Oakland for the second of the three-game series. First pitch is scheduled for 6:05 p.m. and Andrew Heaney is slated to take the mound for Texas.
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