ARLINGTON -- Jordan Diaz couldn’t have asked for a better situation to belt his first home run in the big leagues.

Diaz delivered a pinch-hit solo home run with one out in the ninth inning, which proved to be the game-winner in the A’s 5-4 victory over the Rangers on Friday night at Globe Life Field.

“I’m just happy to hit my first home run in the big leagues, especially a game-winner,” Diaz said. “I’m happy because I helped my team win. That’s always what I want to do.”

Diaz, the organization’s No. 4 prospect who was called up on Wednesday, is expected to provide a much-needed spark to the A’s offense. They needed it late in Friday’s game after erasing an early four-run deficit.

With the game tied 4-4 and one out in the ninth, Texas brought in left-handed reliever Will Smith. Oakland manager Mark Kotsay countered the move by pinch-hitting Diaz for Ryan Noda.

It paid off as Diaz sent a 1-2 slider over the left-field fence.

“I was just trying to put up a good at-bat,” Diaz said.

Added Kotsay: “I’ve got confidence in him against left-handed pitching. For him to get his first career home run and have it be a game-winner? It’s a special night.”

Diaz became just the 13th player in Athletics history to hit a pinch-hit home run for his first career home run. The last time it happened was when Dann Howitt homered on Sept. 3, 1991 at Milwaukee.

He also became the first Major Leaguer to hit a go-ahead pinch-hit home run in the 9th inning or later for his first career home run since San Diego’s Cory Spangenberg on Sept. 2, 2014 vs. Arizona.

For the A’s, it was important to simply see the win column again. This is a team that opened its seven-game road trip on a seven-game losing streak and was coming off a series which the Cubs swept by a combined score of 26-3.

Those struggles prompted Kotsay to encourage his team to spend Thursday’s off-day away from the game.

“Go out and have fun and come back ready to work,” Kotsay said before the game. “I saw good energy in that locker room today. We’re going to continue to work. I think the stress and the message is, ‘Let’s get better at the little details.’ Let’s focus on the small details right now and be great at those.”

That message resonated as the A’s celebrated a victory a few hours later. And Diaz wasn’t the only star on the night.

Oakland starter JP Sears showed some resiliency. He gave up four runs in the first and appeared as though he may not even make it out of the inning. He gave up a two-out, three-run home run to Jonah Heim and then walked the next batter, prompting a mound visit.

But Sears ended the inning by striking out Bubba Thompson, and he went on to throw five more scoreless innings. Sears finished with a career-high 11 strikeouts, including striking out six of the final eight batters he faced.

“Not the way I wanted to start it, but I thought I made a lot of good pitches [in the first inning],” Sears said. “What flipped? I don’t know. I just tried to stay in the zone, tried to keep doing my thing.”

Sears credited catcher Shea Langeliers for calling a great game and throwing out three baserunners. And, Sears said, he knew the offense would eventually score some runs.

His reaction to Diaz’s homer?

“We needed that,” Sears said, smiling. “Those balls have been kind of hitting off the wall for us recently, so it was nice to see that one slide over. That’s an awesome first home run. I’m sure he’ll remember that forever. He’ll be a great addition to have here. He’s got an electric bat, loves to swing it, so I’m super happy for him.”