Kris Benson managed to find his way into a game again, and Matt Holliday (pictured above) decided to nail a 3-run homer over of him in the 5th inning. Oakland scored 4 runs total in the fifth inning (2 of them charged to starter Brandon McCarthy) which increased their lead to 9-1 at the time.
Rangers starting pitcher Brandon McCarthy, who had been having success early in the season, only lasted 4 innings and gave up 7 hits and 7 runs. McCarthy started the fifth inning but quickly allowed consecutive singles to Oakland catcher Kurt Suzuki and first baseman Jason Giambi before being pulled in favor of former starter Kris Benson. This was McCarthy's first loss this season (3-1). Oakland started 21 year old Trevor Cahill and he had an impressive outing with only 1 earned run on 5 hits in 7 innings for the first major league win (1-2) of his career.
The two big innings for Oakland were the 4th and the 5th innings in which they scored all of their runs (9).
The Oakland 4th started just as the 5th did with a Kurt Suzuki single. McCarthy followed this up by walking Jason Giambi and outfielder Matt Holliday to load the bases. Oakland designated hitter Jack Cust made him pay by launching an 0-1 pitch over the right field wall for a grand slam, which made it 4-0 Oakland. A's center fielder Ryan Sweeney followed with a strikeout, and then 2nd baseman Bobby Crosby singled to left field. After right fielder Travis Buck flied out to left, third baseman Jack Hannahan doubled to right which scored Crosby and made it 5-0 A's. Shortstop Orlando Cabrera lined out to Marlon Byrd to end the inning.
Texas struck back (somewhat) in the fifth inning after David Murphy led off by flying out to right. Chris Davis came up to bat and on an 0-2 count did to the ball what the Rangers have been doing better than any other team in the majors all year long; hit it out of the ballpark. This brought the lead to 5-1 A's. Jarrod Saltalamacchia followed by flying out and then Ian Kinsler grounded out to the pitcher to end the Ranger 5th.
Brandon McCarthy started the 5th inning but didn't record a single out before being relieved by former 5th starter Kris Benson. Giambi and Suzuki (on a single each) both reached base just as they did in the 4th inning and this inning wouldn't turn out much better. On Benson's third pitch of the game, Matt Holliday hit the ball for a 3-run home run over the wall in deep left center to make the score 8-1 Oakland. Jack Cust grounded out and then Ryan Sweeney singled to left. Former Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby hit a double to the gap in center field which scored Sweeney and made it 9-1 A's. A Travis Buck ground out and a Jack Hannahan strikeout ended the inning.
The Rangers tried to make a comeback in the top of the ninth, down 9-1, against Oakland closer Brad Ziegler who's ERA at the beginning of the game was an outstanding 1.59. Rangers recent call-up Greg Golson, who pinch hit for Marlon Byrd, struck out to start the inning. After Nelson Cruz was safe at first on an Error by Orlando Cabrera, David Murphy hit a double which scored Cruz making it 9-2. Chris Davis followed with a single that put runners on the corners with just 1 out. Jarrod Saltalamacchia followed with a single, scoring Murphy from third and making it 9-3 A's. After old Omar Vizquel came to plate (hitting for Ian Kinsler) and knocked in another run with a double, Brad Ziegler's night was done and the Rangers were within striking distance at 9-4. Unfortunately for Texas, Elvis Andrus and Michael Young each popped out to center field to end the game.
Rangers lose 9-4
News and Notes:
- Even with the loss, Texas is still 15-13 and lead the American League West by 1/2 a game as Seattle lost to Kansas City 3-1.
- Michael Young continued his hitting steak to 11 straight games as he went 2-5 for the game with 2 doubles.
- The Rangers had 11 hits for the game but also left 8 runners on base for the game.
- In 5 games in Oakland for his career Brandon McCarthy has a 11.57 ERA and is 0-3.
- This was the first relief appearance for Kris Benson in his career. He gave up 5 hits and 2 earned runs in 3 innings but did have 3 strikeouts.
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