Tyler Soderstrom’s two-run double in the fifth inning was all the visiting Athletics needed to defeat the anemic Texas Rangers 2-1 on Monday in the opener of a four-game series at Arlington, Texas.

JP Sears (4-2) and three A’s relievers held the Texas offense at bay. The Rangers have dropped three straight games overall and three in a row to the Athletics, including the final two of a three-game road series last week.

Texas has scored a total of 12 runs over the past six games, losing five of those contests, and they are last in the majors in runs scored (87).

The A’s earned their fifth win in six games.

Sears tossed 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball, permitting five hits and no walks while striking out seven. Mason Miller pitched around a leadoff walk in the ninth inning to earn his ninth save.

Texas starter Patrick Corbin (2-1) allowed two runs on seven hits. He fanned five and walked one in 4 2/3 innings.

The Athletics finally broke through in the fifth when Soderstrom’s two-out bloop double to right field plated Gio Urshela and Brent Rooker, who had doubled and walked, respectively. Soderstrom’s hit chased Corbin.

Texas cut its deficit in half in the sixth. Kyle Higashioka doubled with one out and scored on Jonah Heim’s two-out single to center field. Mitch Spence then replaced Sears and allowed a single to Marcus Semien and a walk to Josh Jong to load the bases. Adolis Garcia popped out to end the inning.

The Rangers were retired in order in the seventh by Spence and in the eighth by Tyler Ferguson.

Miller entered in the ninth and walked Semien before coaxing a groundout from Jung that sent the runner to second. Garcia struck out, and pinch hitter Dustin Harris grounded out to second base, ending the game.

Heim finished with two of the Rangers’ six hits, while Miguel Andujar collected two of the Athletics’ eight hits.

–Field Level Media