The Athletics haven’t won consecutive home games in nearly two months, but they will take a swing at doing so when they face the struggling Texas Rangers on Saturday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
The Athletics ended an eight-game home losing streak with Friday’s 8-3 series-opening victory over Texas. They last won two in a row at Sutter Health Park when they defeated the Los Angeles Angels on June 18 and 19.
The A’s then lost 18 of 21 games at the home digs prior to receiving a big night from Jeff McNeil on Friday.
McNeil hit a tiebreaking homer in the sixth inning and added two doubles — the latter one driving in two runs in the eighth — as part of his season-best four-hit game.
“He’s having fun playing baseball right now,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said of McNeil. “That’s the Jeff we saw early, and hopefully that’s the Jeff we’ll see until the end of the season. He’s taking some great at-bats.”
McNeil was aware he needed a triple for the cycle when he doubled in the eighth inning.
“When I hit it, I was halfway to first and I go, ‘This might happen,'” the 34-year-old said. “I was running as hard as I could but, unfortunately, I’m not as fast as I once was.”
Lawrence Butler homered for the third straight game and Carlos Cortes had a three-run double for the A’s.
Shortstop Jacob Wilson exited in the second inning with a left hand contusion as X-rays were negative. Kotsay termed him “day to day.” Wilson was plunked in the bottom of the first inning by Rangers starter Kumar Rocker.
The second-place Rangers have lost four consecutive games and five of six to fall three games behind the Houston Astros in the American League West.
“When you hit a losing streak, the whole team is trying to do whatever they can to get this thing right,” Texas manager Skip Schumaker said. “Unfortunately, we only had four hits and the bullpen kind of had a tough night.
“Those nights happen, and it’s one thing after enough right now. We have to stop the bleeding.”
Friday’s loss dropped Texas to 5-16 on the road against AL West opponents. The Rangers dug themselves a three-run hole on Friday but eventually tied the score when Jake Burger hammered a three-run blast. It was Burger’s 20th homer of the season.
“We were looking for the big hit, kind of a momentum-swinging play, and Burger provided that,” Schumaker said. “It was an amazing at-bat.”
Athletics right-hander J.T. Ginn (8-6, 3.41 ERA) will squares off against Rangers left-hander MacKenzie Gore (6-9, 4.43) on Saturday.
Ginn, 27, has been solid all season for the A’s and has limited opposing batters to a .213 average. He has pitched six or more innings on 11 occasions and received a no-decision against the Boston Red Sox last Sunday when he allowed three runs (one earned) and five hits over six innings in the A’s 4-3 win.
Ginn is 1-1 with a 4.08 ERA in six career starts against Texas. This season, he has two no-decisions vs. the Rangers while compiling a 2.08 ERA.
Gore, meanwhile, is 0-1 over his last four starts despite having a solid 2.70 ERA during the stretch. The Rangers won in all three of his no-decisions.
Gore, 27, wasn’t involved in the decision Monday when he gave up one run and four hits over 5 1/3 innings in his team’s 4-1, 10-inning win over the Los Angeles Angels.
He is 1-2 with a 6.62 ERA in four career starts against the Athletics. This season, he is 0-1 with a 4.66 ERA in two starts against them.
McNeil is 8-for-14 against Gore.
–Field Level Media
