Pinder’s two-out single in 9th lifts A’s past Rangers 6-5
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Chad Pinder’s two-out RBI single in the ninth inning lifted the Oakland Athletics to a 6-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday.
Stephen Piscotty singled with one out off Chris Martin (1-1) and then stole second base. After Khris Davis flew out, Pinder looped a soft hit into right field. Piscotty slid into home plate to beat a wide throw home from Nomar Mazara as the A’s dugout emptied, mobbing Pinder near first base.
Matt Chapman and Marcus Semien homered to help the A’s complete a three-game sweep. Nick Hundley had two hits and Jurickson Profar added an RBI single to snap an 0-for-17 funk.
Mazara homered twice for Texas and Logan Forsythe also went deep as the Rangers fell to 2-7 on the road.
Blake Treinen (1-1) retired three batters and got a big double play in the ninth to earn the win.
Oakland led 3-1 and 5-3 but Texas rallied to tie each time.
The game was delayed for several moments in the ninth inning after Delino DeShields grounded into an inning-ending double play. Rangers manager Chris Woodward came out and engaged all four umpires in a lengthy discussion as his players remained in the dugout.
Replays appeared to show that A’s second baseman Profar came off the bag before receiving the throw from Semien.
Oakland stranded two runners in the eighth when Semien flew out to center field and Ramon Laureano was doubled up off second base.
Given another shot in the ninth, the A’s came through on Pinder’s first career game-ending hit.
Texas’ Kyle Dowdy lasted three innings in his first career start. He gave up three runs with three walks and two strikeouts.
TRAINERS ROOM
Rangers: 2B Rougned Odor has started a rehab assignment with Triple-A Nashville. Odor has been on the injured list since April 11 with a right knee sprain. … 1B Ronald Guzman (right hamstring strain) flew to Arizona for extended spring training.
Athletics: Matt Olson is getting closer to returning after undergoing right hand surgery in late March. The first baseman has been hitting soft toss in the batting cage and could begin a rehab assignment next week. … Top pitching prospect Jesus Luzardo played catch for the first time since being shut down with a muscle strain in his left shoulder.
UP NEXT
Rangers: Adrian Sampson was penciled in to start against the Mariners in Seattle on Thursday but those plans have changed after Sampson pitched three innings in relief Wednesday. No replacement has been announced.
Athletics: RHP Mike Fiers (2-2, 8.28) faces the Blue Jays in Toronto on Friday. Fiers’ ERA is the second-highest in the majors among pitchers with 20 or more innings.
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