Odor's walk-off single lifts Rangers in 10
ARLINGTON -- Shin-Soo Choo homered and doubled in game-changing innings for the Rangers, who got a walk-off base hit from Rougned Odor against A's reliever R.J. Alvarez in the 10th inning for an 8-7 Texas victory at Globe Life Park on Saturday night to even this series.
Choo opened the 10th with a double off right-hander Ryan Cook, who proceeded to walk each of his next two batters. That prompted A's manager Bob Melvin to bring in Alvarez -- recalled earlier in the day -- with none out to face Odor, who delivered the game-winning hit off the glove of shortstop Marcus Semien.
"These guys, I see their heart. I see the fight every day," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "They show up to win every day. They expect to win every day. To be able to come back after they lost the lead in a very similar fashion [as Friday], I'm proud of how they show up every day."
Choo's three-run home run in a four-run seventh tied the game, 7-7, after the A's had stormed back for six runs in the top half of the inning -- highlighted by outfielder Josh Reddick's three-run home run against Texas reliever Anthony Bass. Reddick, who has a team-high 18 RBIs, also doubled and singled in the game, giving him 17 hits in his last 34 at-bats.
Video: OAK@TEX: A's put a up a six-spot in the 7th
Rangers first baseman Kyle Blanks finished with four hits, including a solo home run to lead off the sixth, and three RBIs.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Choo comes through: Not only did Choo launch a game-tying, three-run homer in the seventh inning, he hit a leadoff double and scored the winning run in the 10th. He began the game-winning rally with a double down the right-field line off Cook and scored on a walk-off single from Odor. Choo helped send the game into extra innings by capping a four-run seventh inning with a 365-foot homer off lefty Fernando Abad. The Rangers entered the inning with a 3-1 lead before surrendering six runs in the top of the frame. But Blanks' RBI single trimmed the A's advantage to 7-4, then Choo sent a full-count offering from Abad just over the right-field fence to tie the game. More >
Video: OAK@TEX: Choo ties the game with a three-run homer
Bullpen blunders: A's relievers continued to struggle, allowing five runs in the loss. Oakland's bullpen has surrendered at least two runs in 11 of the club's last 16 games.
"We're out there battling," said Cook. "We have to get better. That's the bottom line. It's frustrating, no doubt. We all want to do well, obviously. We want to do well for the guys, and right now we're not." More >
Blanks has career night: Blanks had his second career four-hit game and the first by a Rangers' player this season, going 4-for-5 while driving in three of his team's first four runs. The first baseman, called up from Triple-A Round Rock on Friday when Mitch Moreland went on the disabled list, began with an RBI double over Reddick's head in right. Blanks singled in the third before delivering his second home run in as many nights in the sixth, a solo shot to left giving the Rangers a 3-1 lead. In the following frame, Blanks drove home Adrian Beltre with a single up the middle, part of a four-run seventh. More >
Video: OAK@TEX: Blanks homers, collects four hits in win
"I just have to tip my hat to the guys. They have so much fight in them. Even though we had a slow start, wins like tonight show what we're made of." -- Rangers right-hander Nick Martinez, who allowed five runs -- two earned -- over six-plus innings, raising his ERA from a Major League-best 0.35 to 0.84
SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
The Rangers are 5-0 when Nick Martinez pitches. They are 3-15 when anyone starts.
WHAT'S NEXT
Athletics: The A's will send Sonny Gray to the mound for Sunday's matinee finale at Globe Life Park, with first pitch scheduled for 12:05 p.m. PT. Gray is undefeated with a 1.98 ERA in his first five starts.
Rangers:Yovani Gallardo will face the A's for the first time since an Opening Day defeat, when he allowed four runs in four innings. In his four starts since, Gallardo is 2-2 with a 3.18 ERA. First pitch is set for 2:05 p.m. CT.
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