Oakland A’s 6, Texas Rangers 1

by PegNews wire

ARLINGTON — The Texas Rangers at least managed to avoid another shutout Tuesday night, losing 6-1 to the Oakland A's at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. The loss, the third straight for Texas, dropped them to 80-64 on the season.

Photo not provided by the Texas Rangers

The Rangers continue to make every pitcher they face look like Cy Young

With Boston defeating the Angels earlier in the evening, Texas fell to 5 1/2 games behind the Red Sox in the wild card race, and 6 games behind the Angels for first place in the AL West with 18 games left in the season.

At least the Rangers didn't get shut out again, as a David Murphy solo home run in the bottom of the fourth snapped a 22-inning shutout streak, all of it coming at home against allegedly inferior opponents. It marked just the second time in 16 years that the Rangers had two shutouts on the same homestand.

The team as a whole collected just five hits, with Murphy going 2-for-4 and Esteban German also collecting two hits. Rookie phenom Elvis Andrus went 0-for-2 with two walks, ending his hitting streak at 16, a Texas rookie record.

Rangers starter Brandon McCarthy didn't help matters much, surrendering four runs on four hits over just three innings. McCarthy fell to 7-3 with a 4.97 ERA.

Posted by Todd M.