Melvin wins challenge on close play at plate

OAKLAND -- It didn't take long for A's manager Bob Melvin to issue a challenge on Wednesday afternoon. Just four batters into the contest with the Rangers, Melvin challenged the ruling that Alex Rios slid underneath the tag of A's catcher Derek Norris at home plate.

Prince Fielder had hit a quick chopper to shortstop Jed Lowrie, and he threw home to Norris, who was standing over the plate as Rios tried to sneak in. Umpire and crew chief Larry Vanover initially called Rios safe, but Norris and A's starter Sonny Gray appeared to plead their case with him before Melvin came out of the dugout and issued a challenge.

Vanover then communicated with the expanded replay officials in New York, and it was decided that Norris applied the tag in time, which overturned the original call. As a result, Texas' early 2-0 lead was reduced to 1-0, the result of a Rios RBI triple earlier in the inning.

"[Our replay coordinators] made the call, which they typically do," Melvin said. "It was a good call. From our angle, you couldn't really tell."

It marked the second straight successful replay challenge for Melvin, as he also had a call overturned on Monday. For the season, the A's are 2-4 in replay challenges.