Rangers Beat A’s
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ARLINGTON, Texas — Neftali Feliz is a different pitcher from the one who blew the save in the Texas Rangers’ best chance to win a World Series in 2011.
In his first save opportunity since that day, the Rangers’ right-hander delivered, securing victory for right-handed pitcher Jerome Williams, who limited the Oakland Athletics to one run over six innings in the Texas Rangers’ 4-1 victory over the A’s on Friday.
Williams (2-4) gave up five hits while striking out four and walking none as a fill-in in Texas’ injury-riddled starting rotation. Feliz worked around trouble in the bottom of the ninth to earn his first regular-season save since Sept. 28, 2011. He blew that save opportunity in Game 6 of the World Series on Oct. 24, 2011.
The next season, he was placed in the Texas rotation, but was lost for the better part of two seasons recovering from Tommy John surgery.
“Of course, I know it was 2011 since the last time I was in that situation, but I’m very happy to be back in the role,” said Feliz, who was beaten out of the role in spring training by right-hander Joakim Soria, who was
traded to Detroit this week.
“And I’m more happy because it was for a win for my team.”
Third baseman Adrian Beltre went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the Rangers’ two-run sixth.
First baseman J.P. Arencibia and right fielder Alex Rios each had run-scoring base hits in the second and third innings, respectively. Left fielder Jim Adduci also had an RBI in the sixth.
Texas (41-62), which had dropped 13 of its last 15 games before Friday, is 6-27 in its last 33 games. Oakland fell to 63-39.
Right-hander Jason Hammel (0-3) took the loss for Oakland (63-39). In his third start since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs, Hammel gave up four runs on five hits and two walks, while striking out three.
One of Hammel’s runs was unearned after a throwing error by center fielder Yoenis Cespedes in the Rangers’ sixth led to their fourth run on Adduci’s sacrifice fly.
Hammel has a 7.38 ERA since joining Oakland.
“I thought he pitched better, a better mix,” Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. “For the first couple of innings it looked like he got the ball down, commanded his fastball better. At times, had a real sharp slider.”
Rangers right-handed pitcher Roman Mendez and left-hander Ryan Feierabend held the lead for Williams before giving way to Feliz.
Feliz retired Cespedes before allowing two runners on with one out in the ninth.
The Rangers’ right-hander, though, induced a fly out from first baseman Stephen Vogt and a 3-4-1 groundout from catcher Derek Norris.
Instead of an average fastball in the mid-90s that he threw before being injured, Feliz now needs a better mix of pitches with an average fastball now in the low-90s.
“Nefty is not the same pitcher he was before he got hurt,” Texas manager Ron Washington said. “What he is, he’s been in the closer role before. I’m more than certain before it’s over with he’ll get him some strikeouts.
“As long as he gets outs that’s all that matters and he’s going to have to pitch to do it and he’s learning how to do that.”
Williams retired 15 of the first 17 hitters he faced, pitching around doubles in each of the first two innings.
He found some trouble the third time around Oakland’s order in the sixth after giving up hits to lead off the inning.
With one out, Cespedes drove in second baseman Eric Sogard with a single to left, but designated hitter John Jaso was thrown out trying to advance to third. Outfielder Brandon Moss flied out to left field to end the threat.
“That’s probably a little aggressive,” Melvin said. “He knows that. He’s trying to make something happen. We didn’t have a whole lot going on.”
Aducci, who doubled to lead off the second, scored on Arencibia’s single to left, and Rios drove in Elvis Andrus, whose triple started the third.
“We just got beat,” Melvin said. “Any major-league team can beat you at any time. This is a team we’ve had a lot of battles with.”
