Rangers lose to A’s in 10

The Texas Rangers went into extra innings for the first time this season and came away losers to the Oakland A’s 5-4 in Oakland.

The Rangers held a 4-3 lead going into the 8th inning before Josh Willingham tied the game with a home run off reliever Arthur Rhodes.  The Rangers had an opportunity to score in the 10th when Grant Balfour walked 3 Texas batter to load the bases.  Balfour was able to regain control and end the Rangers inning.  Darren Oliver came in to pitch the bottom of the 10th and only threw one pitch when Hideki Matsui hit the walk-off home run for the A’s.

Texas starting pitcher Derek Holland went 7 innings, giving up 3 runs while striking out 4. 

Michael Young, playing second base, kept his hot bat going with a double in the third inning which scored two.  Young added another RBI in the fifth with a sacrifice fly which scored Julio Borbon.  Adrian Beltre followed with a sacrifice fly of his own, which scored Elvis Andrus and gave the Rangers a 4-2 lead.

The loss by Texas give Oakland the series, 3 games to 1.  The Rangers stay on the west coast for a series with Seattle beginning Tuesday.