A’s bullpen can’t hold on as late Seager home run lifts Rangers
May 7, 2024
By ERIC HE | Associated Press
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Corey Seager hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Texas Rangers rallied past the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Monday night.
The defending World Series champions were trailing 2-0 until Seager drilled a full-count pitch from Lucas Erceg (1-2) over the right-center wall with two outs. Texas added an insurance run in the ninth on an error by first baseman Tyler Nevin.
Kirby Yates got three outs for his sixth save.
The A’s, who are leaving Oakland at the end of this season for Sacramento while they await a new stadium in Las Vegas, drew a season-low 2,895 fans at the Coliseum.
Texas has won four of five, and tied a season high with its three-game win streak. The A’s have dropped two in a row after winning six straight.
Darell Hernaiz and Esteury Ruiz each had a sacrifice fly for the A’s.
Rangers starter Andrew Heaney allowed two runs in six-plus innings as he dueled with counterpart Alex Wood, who pitched six scoreless innings. Texas was 0-6 in games started by Heaney entering Monday.
José Leclerc (3-2) struck out two in a hitless inning for the win.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, who spent 13 seasons managing the San Francisco Giants and won three World Series titles with them, reminisced about his time in the Bay Area before the game. He also caught up with A’s manager Mark Kotsay, who played for Bochy in San Diego.
“It’s always good to get back in the Bay,” Bochy said. “I love the Bay. It just feels good, the air.”
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Bochy is sad the A’s will be departing Oakland, describing “good battles” as part of the Bay Bridge rivalry series with the Giants.
“We came in here just like they came in our place, trying to do all you can to be wearing the horns in the Bay Area,” Bochy said. “But it will be sad that it’s going to be over. Probably — I can’t say definitely.”
Texas Rangers’ Leody Taveras #3 celebrates with teammates after their 4-2 MLB win against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Texas Rangers relief pitcher Kirby Yates #39 is congratulated by catcher Jonah Heim #28 after their 4-2 MLB win against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Texas Rangers’ Marcus Semien #2 flips his bat after striking out swinging against Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Dany Jiménez #56 in the ninth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Texas Rangers’ Evan Carter #32 is congratulated by Marcus Semien #2 after scoring an error in the ninth inning of their MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Texas Rangers’ Evan Carter #32 scores past Oakland Athletics catcher Shea Langeliers #23 after an error in the ninth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Dany Jiménez #56 throws against the Texas Rangers in the ninth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics’ Brett Harris #77 strikes out swinging against Texas Rangers relief pitcher José Leclerc #25 in the seventh inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Austin Adams #29 throws against the Texas Rangers in the seventh inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager #5 is congratulated by Leody Taveras #3 after hitting a three-run home run off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Lucas Erceg #70 in the eighth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Lucas Erceg #70 reacts as Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager #5 rounds the bases after hitting a three-run home run in the eighth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager #5 hits a three-run home run off Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Lucas Erceg #70 in the eighth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics left fielder Esteury Ruiz #1 catches a fly ball hit by Texas Rangers’ Corey Seager #5 in the sixth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics’ Darell Hernaiz #2 strikes out swinging against Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney #44 in the sixth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics’ JJ Bleday #33 scores past Texas Rangers catcher Andrew Knizner #12 on a sacrifice fly by Esteury Ruiz #1 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics’ Esteury Ruiz #1 hits a sacrifice fly off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney #44 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Texas Rangersstarting pitcher Andrew Heaney #44 reacts in the fifth inning of their MLB game against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Texas Rangers left fielder Ezequiel Duran #20 makes a fielding error on a hit by Oakland Athletics’ JJ Bleday #33 in the fifth inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics’ J.D. Davis #5 is congratulated by JJ Bleday #33 after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Darell Hernaiz #2 in the second inning of their MLB game against the Texas Rangers at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics’ J.D. Davis #5 is safe past Texas Rangers’ catcher Andrew Knizner #12 on a sacrifice fly by Darell Hernaiz #2 in the second inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics’ Abraham Toro #31 hits a single off Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney #44 in the second inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Texas Rangers starting pitcher Andrew Heaney #44 throws against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Alex Wood #57 throws against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of their MLB game at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay greets players before their MLB game against the Texas Rangers at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Oakland Athletics’ Brent Rooker #25 greets teammates before their MLB game against the Texas Rangers at the Coliseum in Oakland, Calif., on Monday, May 6, 2024. He was named American League Player of the Week. (Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group)
Rangers: Rookie OF Wyatt Langford (hamstring strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list. … RHP Nathan Eovaldi (groin) does not have a sports hernia and isn’t expected to need a minor league rehab assignment before coming off the 15-day injured list.
Athletics: OF Esteury Ruiz was back in the lineup and playing through a sprained wrist sustained Saturday. He underwent an MRI. … RHP Joe Boyle (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list after being lifted from Sunday’s start. He will be held back from baseball activity for a while. … RHP Luis Medina (knee) and LHP Sean Newcomb (knee) will both face hitters in Arizona this week.
UP NEXT
RHP Ross Stripling (1-5, 4.24 ERA) pitches Tuesday for Oakland. Bochy said José Ureña (0-2, 4.35) could get the ball for the Rangers, though they had not announced a starter.
