Taveras scores game-ending single for Rangers in 3-2 win over Athletics
ARLINGTON, Texas — Leody Taveras hit a game-ending single with one out in the ninth inning and the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 3-2 on Saturday night.
The bases were loaded when Taveras singled up the middle and beyond a tight infield, sending pinch runner Ezequiel Duran home with the winning run.
Athletics reliever Tyler Ferguson (2-2), who struck out all three batters after entering the eighth inning, hit Nathaniel Lowe with a pitch to lead off the ninth. Carson Kelly reached base on a bloop single and Travis Jankowski drew a four-pitch walk with one out. Duran replaced Lowe at second after Kelly’s single.
All-Star reliever Kirby Yates (6-2) singled and walked in a scoreless ninth inning.
The defending World Series champion Rangers (64-71), who led the American League last year with 5.43 runs per game, were held to four runs or fewer for the sixth straight game and the 12th time in their last 15 games. They are 23-16 in one-run games and have won their last six games decided by a single run.
Jonah Heim’s 12th home run was a two-run shot in the second inning that gave Texas a 2-0 lead.
Lawrence Butler became the fourth Oakland player to hit 20 home runs this season when he hit a ball with an exit velocity of more than 112 mph that barely cleared the 8-foot-high right-field wall in the fourth inning. The A’s tied the game in the sixth on back-to-back doubles by Butler and Brent Rooker, who homered twice in Friday night’s series opener.
The A’s have scored 16 times in their last five games, accounting for 24 of their 34 runs on this trip. They have scored an MLB-best 50.9 percent of their runs (283 of 556) on home runs.
Texas left-hander Cody Bradford tied his career high with eight strikeouts in seven innings, while Oakland rookie right-hander Joey Estes struck out seven batters in six innings. Both starters allowed two runs, and neither walked a batter.
TRAINERS’ ROOM
Athletics: Manager Mark Kotsay said left-handed pitcher Scott Alexander (left rotator cuff tendinitis) could face some hitters Monday when the team returns home before it is determined whether he needs a rehab assignment. Alexander, who last played Aug. 17, felt good about working out Friday.
Rangers: Three-time Cy Young Award winner Max Scherzer said he has determined what caused the nerve problem in his triceps and is ready to rehab to get ready to pitch again this season. … Jacob deGrom (elbow surgery) is expected to start Sunday for Triple-A Round Rock. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is then expected to make another rehab start next Saturday. If all goes well, the 36-year-old right-hander could then pitch in the major leagues for the first time since April 28, 2023.
FOLLOWING
Starting right-handed pitcher Mitch Spence (7-9, 4.54 ERA), who was 0-3 with a 4.78 ERA in five starts in August, will take the field Sunday for the A’s in the series finale. The Rangers had not announced a scheduled starting pitcher.
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