Texas Rangers cut the magic number to three as they topple the Oakland Athletics 3-2
The Texas Rangers now need three more wins to go through to the playoffs, this season and they can thank Josh Hamilton and Ian Kinsler who brought the 3-2 victory against Oakland Athletics with two homers in the eighth inning on Wednesday, September 21 at
Oakland Coliseum.
C. J. Wilson started for the Rangers and he was looking for his 17th win of the night. He went on to pitch six innings, allowing two runs from five hits and three walks. His efforts got him an undecided game as the Rangers were not able to pounce
on the A’s early.
Brandon McCarthy on the other end picked up an undecided game as well. The hurler was the better starter on Wednesday and his efforts produced seven innings pitching. He allowed just a run from six hits. The star is currently on 9-8 and he still has the
chance to ascend to 10 victories this season.
Grant Balfour was unfortunate to pick up the loss for the A’s as the ball thrower conceded two home-runs in the eighth inning. The relief pitcher moved to two losses in the season. The Rangers’ summer acquisition, Koji Uehara, on the other hand, picked up
his second win as the hurler did not concede any runs in the eighth to move up in the stats. Neftali Feliz picked up his 29th save as he walked one hitter and retired the others.
The scoring trail was ignited in the game through Michael Young’s first run in the top of the second. The Texas designated hitter reached first base off a single. Adrian Beltre then pushed him to third base with a single to centre-field. The unofficial captain
of the team then scored when Mike Napoli ground into a double play. The Rangers immediately went 1-0 up.
The A’s were on the attack as well. Wilson had a hard time pitching in the bottom of the fifth and the Oakland squad took full advantage of him. With two men out, Cliff Pennington was on third base after he stole the plate. Wilson conceded his first when
Brandon Allen smashed an RBI single to left-field. A walk later, Allen found himself at home plate when Jemile Weeks drove him in with a ground ball single.
At 2-1 down, the Rangers responded in the top of the eighth with homers from Ian Kinsler and Josh Hamilton. The two stars powered the Rangers home, in style, as the game ended 3-2 in their favour.
With a second straight win over the A’s in the series, the Rangers are now three wins away from gaining qualification in the playoffs.
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