Field Level Media
Sep 12, 2020
The Oakland Athletics vented the frustration of an earlier loss in a seven-run second inning Saturday night, helping produce a 10-1 win over the host Texas Rangers and a split of their doubleheader.
The Rangers used a similar running start -- five runs in the first inning -- as the foundation for a 5-2 win in the opener.
After Texas starter Colby Allard had worked around a one-out single by Tommy La Stella in a scoreless first, the A's jumped all over the Rangers left-hander in the second.
Ramon Laureano and Marcus Semien had RBI singles, and Sean Murphy a two-run hit as the A's put their first six batters on base, building a 4-0 lead and ending Allard's day.
La Stella made it a five-run inning with his second hit of the game, after which Rangers reliever Taylor Hearn walked Matt Olson and Khris Davis, each with the bases loaded, allowing the Texas deficit to expand to 7-0.
Allard (0-6) was charged with six runs (five earned) on five hits in one inning. He walked two and struck out one.
The A's completed their scoring on a three-run homer by Semien in the fifth inning, his sixth of the season.
Meanwhile, Oakland right-hander Chris Bassitt (4-2) benefitted from the abundance of support, coasting through six innings.
He allowed a home run to Joey Gallo, his ninth of the season, with one out in the sixth to end a shutout bid.
Bassitt was pulled at the end of the sixth, having allowed one run on eight hits. He walked two and struck out eight.
Semien finished with two hits, four RBIs and two runs for the A's, who won for the fourth time in their last five games.
Murphy collected two hits, two RBIs and two runs for Oakland, while La Stella added a pair of singles in a nine-hit attack.
Gallo, Leody Taveras and Isiah Kiner-Falefa had two hits each for the Rangers, who lost for the ninth time in their last 12 games despite out-hitting the A's 10-9.
--Field Level Media