A’s gain ground in wild-card race with drubbing of Rangers

OAKLAND — Matt Olson had four hits and drove in four runs, Starling Marte added an RBI triple and the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 10-5 on Friday night for their third straight win.

Elvis Andrus took a pitch off his left hip from Rangers starter Glenn Otto to force home the go-ahead run in a six-run second inning. Andrus later scored on Marte’s triple in the fourth that chased Otto (0-1).

Olson hit a three-run single in Oakland’s six-run second and an RBI single in the fourth. He set a career high for RBIs with 95, topping his previous best of 91 from two years ago.

Josh Harrison had a two-run single in the fifth for the A's (77-64), who along with the Mariners are one game back for the second AL wild card with Toronto only trailing the Yankees by a half-game in the race for that spot.

Deolis Guerra (4-1) pitched 2⅓ scoreless innings for the win.

Nathaniel Lowe hit a two-run double in the third, then Nick Solak’s RBI single one out later chased A’s starter Paul Blackburn, who is still waiting for his first win since 2018.

Blackburn allowed four earned runs on six hits over 2⅔ innings with three strikeouts and a walk in his fifth start of the year. He has filled in admirably since right-hander Chris Bassitt took a line drive to the face at Chicago on Aug. 17 and needed surgery to repair three cheekbone fractures.

Adolis García hit an RBI single in the first for the Rangers (51-89), who had their four-game winning streak snapped that matched their longest of the year.

Kemp in charge

Oakland left fielder Tony Kemp went 3 for 3 and hasn’t struck out in 51 plate appearances since his last K on Aug. 17 at the White Sox.

Reunited

Oakland slugger Khris Davis caught up with his old Texas teammates and manager Chris Woodward during pregame work.

The Rangers released him June 13 and the A’s brought back their popular designated hitter on a minor league deal Aug. 4 after he spent almost two months training on his own at home in Arizona. Davis, who led the majors with 48 home runs in 2018, was called up Sept. 1.

He struck out as a pinch-hitter to end the fourth, then stayed in the game as designated hitter.

Trainer’s room

Rangers: RHP Dane Dunning was activated from the COVID-19 injured list and he pitched one inning — with a hit and strikeout — as Woodward planned as the Rangers ease him back into action initially. Texas optioned Demarcus Evans to Triple-A Round Rock.

Athletics: RHP Bassitt worked out catching footballs to get back accustomed to having a ball coming at him again, according to athletic trainer Nick Paparesta. Bassitt played catch Thursday and will throw about 20 pitches off the mound Saturday. ... RHP Mike Fiers faced hitters in a key step as he works back from a strained pitching elbow that has kept him out since May 7. ... OF Seth Brown was activated from the COVID-19 IL that sidelined him since Aug. 27 following a rehab outing with Class A Stockton on Thursday.

Up next

LHP Kolby Allard (3-12, 5.00 ERA) pitches for Texas trying to snap a two-start skid and avoid a team-high 13th loss, while Oakland counters with lefty Cole Irvin (9-13, 4.10) who has lost his last two decisions.