Texas Rangers Rebound Against Athletics, Clinch Winning Trip

The Texas Rangers bounced back from another tough loss behind Jon Gray, blanking the Oakland Athletics 5-0 Saturday afternoon at Oakland Coliseum.

The American League West-leading Rangers (24-15) improved to 6-3 on the current road trip, clinching a winning record going into Sunday’s finale against the A’s. Texas is also 10-5 against the division and has yet to lose a series to an AL West rival. The Rangers lead the Oakland series 2-1.

Gray delivered a masterful start the day after Texas blew several leads in a 9-7 loss in 10 innings. The right-hander improved to 3-1 after going eight scoreless innings and striking out five. Gray lowered his ERA to 3.15.

Texas pecked away at A’s starter James Kaprielian, scoring a single run in the first, third and fourth innings. Nathaniel Lowe accounted for two of the runs with a single in the opening frame and opposite-field, solo shot to left in the fourth.

The homer was Lowe’s fifth of the season. He finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Ezequiel Duran added a two-run home run in the top of the ninth, which was his only hit of the game.

The Athletics nearly spoiled the shutout in the seventh, as right fielder Adolis García and second baseman Marcus Semien combined to throw out Jace Peterson at home. Oakland challenged the close call, but the tag by catcher Sandy León was upheld.

The series ends Sunday with a 3:07 p.m. CT start. Andrew Heaney (2-3, 5.25) starts for Texas, with JP Sears (0-3, 5.54) getting the nod for Oakland (9-32).

The Rangers open a six-game homestand Monday with an interleague series against the Atlanta Braves.

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