Rangers Lose In Oakland
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The Texas Rangers were unable to sweep the series as they lost to the Oakland Athletics 4-3 on Wednesday. The loss ties the 2-game series at 1-1.
The Rangers had a 3-1 lead in the game until the Athletics rallied back with two runs in the seventh inning. The Athletics capped off the comeback with a walk off home run by Brandon Hicks, his first home run of the season.
Colby Lewis was back in the Rangers starting pitcher rotation but still showed a lagging tightness in the right forearm. Lewis pitched five innings for the Rangers and only gave up three hits and a run before being retired. He also had three strikeouts.
“I felt pretty good, it just tightened up on me a little bit,” Lewis said. “It’s nothing to be concerned about. This is something to build on going forward.”
Alexi Ogando is credited with a blown save and Michael Kirkman earned the loss when he gave up a walk-off home run to Brandon Hicks in the 9th inning.
The Rangers offense was able to outhit the Athletics except in the end of the game. Elvis Andrus led the Rangers with a hit and a run including a run after a Michael Young single that helped the Rangers take a dominating 3-1 lead in the game. After giving up the lead in the seventh inning, the Rangers were held to a double by Nelson Cruz in the ninth inning. Cruz finished the game with two hits and an RBI in the loss.
“Every time you lose in your division it’s tough,” outfielder Nelson Cruz said. “We played really good today and had the lead we wanted. We just couldn’t close it down.”
The Rangers hope to take another game 1 series lead when they take on their division rivals the Los Angeles Angels on Friday. First pitch is in Los Angeles at 9:05 p.m.
