Rangers storm back in 10th, win on HBP
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ARLINGTON -- The Rangers rallied with three runs in the 10th inning for a walk-off 5-4 victory over the Athletics on Tuesday night. The Rangers trailed, 4-2, entering the bottom of the inning before coming back to win it when Rougned Odor was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded.
"A huge win," said designated hitter Carlos Beltrán, who had the game-tying hit. "Since I've joined this ballclub, I have seen the energy in the dugout and in the clubhouse. This team feels it's not far behind whether it's three runs or four runs, they feel they can come back. That attitude is great to see."
The Rangers' rally started when right-hander John Axford issued three straight one-out walks to Robinson Chirinos, pinch-hitter Jonathan Lucroy and Ian Desmond to load the bases.
Beltran then ripped a first-pitch breaking ball into center for a two-run single. Left-hander Marc Rzepczynski took over to face Adrián Beltré and walked him intentionally to load the bases.
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"It's never an easy decision to do something unorthodox like that, but I couldn't watch that guy beat us again, especially against a left-handed pitcher," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "With two lefties coming up, I thought my best shot was to play in and try to get a ground ball to force it."
That set up a lefty vs. lefty matchup against Odor, and Rzepczynski hit him with the first pitch to end the game.
• A's veteran relievers lose command in 10th
"Crazy game," Beltre said. "We always find a way to come back. Carlos came up big again. What a guy he is in the clutch."
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Keone Kela was on the mound for the Rangers in the 10th, the fifth of five relievers used by them. Kela started the inning by walking Brett Eibner on a full-count pitch. He also went to a full count on Yonder Alonso, who then ripped a double down the right-field line.
Eibner was running on the pitch and scored the go-ahead run. Ryon Healy's single to left brought home Alonso.
The Rangers led, 2-1, going into the ninth before Max Muncy reached on a one-out infield hit against closer Sam Dyson. Tyler Ladendorf replaced him as a pinch-runner and stole second as Coco Crisp struck out for the second out. Danny Valencia then grounded a single through the right side and Ladendorf came around to score the tying run. The Athletics had been 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position up to that point.
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Rangers relievers, after an early exit by starter Lucas Harrell, pitched six scoreless innings before Dyson allowed the tying run in the ninth. Athletics starter Andrew Triggs pitched well, allowing just one run in a career-high 5 2/3 innings.
• Claudio's relief sweet for hang-tough Rangers
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MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Misplay costs run: The A's hurt themselves when the Rangers went ahead in the seventh. Reliever Ryan Dull began the inning by walking Odor. Mitch Moreland followed with a grounder that first baseman Alonso tipped away with his glove. It was a play that should have been made but went for a single as Odor raced to third. He scored on Elvis Andrus' sacrifice fly.
Triggs digs deep: Triggs turned in the longest of his three starts, lasting 5 2/3 innings. He left with a 1-0 lead and a runner on second, but Dull gave up an RBI single to Beltran to make it a 1-1 game.
"Triggs was terrific," Melvin said. "I know I was thinking five innings would be great and he gave us 5 2/3. He did great."
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Valencia walks in run: Valencia began the day with 11 RBIs in his last 37 games. But he picked up one in the second when he drew a bases-loaded walk to give the Athletics a 1-0 lead. He collected a second RBI with his game-tying single in the ninth.
Profar lays out:Jurickson Profar started in left field for just the sixth time this season but made a terrific catch in the second on Marcus Semien's long drive. Profar ran deep into the left-center gap, laid out and snagged it for the second out of the inning.
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INJURY REPORT
Harrell exited after two innings with a right groin strain. He threw 47 pitches and left trailing 1-0. Alex Claudio took over as the long reliever. Harrell will undergo further evaluation to see if he needs to go on the disabled list. More >
QUOTABLE
"Beyond all that, the runs, the hits and whatever, the job that Claudio did is amazing. He's been doing that for us all year. I'll tell you, if I was building a team he'd be one of the first pitchers on it." -- Desmond on Claudio
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SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS
With his run-scoring single in the sixth, Beltran passed Carlos Delgado for the most career RBIs from a Puerto Rican-born player with 1,513.
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WHAT'S NEXT
Athletics: Left-hander Sean Manaea pitches against the Rangers as the three-game series concludes at 5:05 p.m. PT Wednesday at Globe Life Park. Manaea is 2-3 with a 3.27 ERA in eight starts and one relief appearance since being activated off the disabled list on June 29.
Rangers: Right-hander Yu Darvish faces the Athletics with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m. CT Wednesday. Darvish is 1-3 with a 2.72 ERA in six starts since his return from the disabled list on July 16.
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