The Athletics will go for their third straight series win when they battle the swooning Texas Rangers on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a four-game American League West set in Arlington, Texas.
The Athletics have penciled in left-hander Jeffrey Springs (3-3, 6.04 ERA) to start in the matinee while Texas will counter with right hander Tyler Mahle (3-0, 1.14).
Brent Rooker lined a two-run home run to left field in the ninth inning and Lawrence Butler blasted a two-out grand slam in the inning as the Athletics turned it on late to score six in the ninth and win 7-1 on Wednesday to claim at least a split of the series. The Athletics pounded out 11 hits, with Butler, Rooker, Jacob Wilson and Shea Langeliers producing two each.
After scoring a season-high 15 runs in a win over the Athletics on Tuesday, Texas reverted to its offensive struggles on Wednesday. Adolis Garcia and Josh Jung each had a pair of hits to lead Texas’ nine-hit attack. The Rangers left 11 runners on base, six of them in scoring position.
Texas has lost six of its past eight games and will lean on Mahle to turn the tide. He has been spectacular this season and has a pair of no-decisions, against the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants, respectively, in his past two times out. In the latter, Mahle allowed two runs on eight hits (both season highs) in a game Texas lost 3-2 in San Francisco on Saturday.
Before the no-decisions, Mahle had three straight wins in which he gave up a combined one run. He has allowed only four total runs in 31 2/3 innings over his first six starts.
“He’s got incredible command,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “He’s got a good game plan when he goes in, he knows what he wants to do, and he executes the pitches. He’s just a guy that has the ability to make a big pitch when he has to.”
Mahle has only one career appearance against the Athletics, going 0-1 with a 1.50 ERA over six innings.
It’s been feast or famine for Springs this season, losing the past two games after winning his previous two outings. It his most recent start, Springs allowed seven runs (five earned) on seven hits in six innings in a game the Athletics lost 10-3 at home to the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. He struck out four and walked two.
That followed a start on April 20 in which he allowed six runs (four of them earned) in 2 1/3 innings in a 14-1 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers.
Getting through the early innings without damage has been a problem for Springs this season. In is six starts, he has an ERA of 16.50 in the first inning and 9.35 in the first three innings of a game. In the next three, it drops to 0.82.
“You can’t give up four in the first inning,” Springs said after the loss to the White Sox. “It just puts the team behind and kills all momentum. I feel like I’m right there — I’ve just got to do a better job of making better pitches from pitch one.”
Springs is 1-0 with a 2.77 ERA in five career appearances (two starts) against Texas. He has given up five runs (four earned) in 13 innings while allowing 13 hits, striking out 15 and walking just one.
–Field Level Media
