The Oakland Athletics have turned in to an interesting story for the 2018 MLB season, and that story has them right in the thick of the American League playoff race. A win like they got on Tuesday will always help build momentum and confidence, as they rallied from eight runs down on the road to beat the Texas Rangers, 10-7, in 10 innings. Khris Davis had the game-winning three-run home run in the 10th off of Austin Bibens-Dirkx, officially completing the A's comeback.
The Rangers held a 10-2 lead after six innings, but rallies of three and four runs in the seventh and eighth innings got things going for Oakland. That would lead to Stephen Piscotty forcing extras with a solo shot in the ninth, as the ball traveled over 400 feet to center field. They totaled 11 runs over the final four innings, all to improve to 33-21 on the road this season.
Oakland used four home runs to power their rally, which was a franchise-record third straight game that they hit that many. They have hit 92 away from home this season, which is tops in baseball. The A's rallied from eight runs down in the sixth inning or later for the first time since August 30th, 1939, when the team was in Philadelphia. On the other end, the Rangers were 471-0 all-time when leading by eight runs in the seventh inning or later before Tuesday night.
Marcus Semien and Jed Lowrie both contributed to the improbable rally with three RBIs apiece, while Lowire and Mark Canha both added long balls on the night. Keone Kela gave up Piscotty's game-tying shot in the ninth, suffering his first blown save in 24 chances for Texas this season.
The Rangers did get a big night at the plate from Elvis Andrus, who connected with his first-career grand slam and drove in a career-high tying five runs. Although, his error at shortstop sparked the Athletics' eighth-inning rally, which played a major role in Oakland's late-game heroics. Following the Seattle Mariners' loss to the San Francisco Giants, the A's sit just 1.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the American League. They are back in Arlington for two more games with the Rangers on Wednesday and Thursday.
The Rangers held a 10-2 lead after six innings, but rallies of three and four runs in the seventh and eighth innings got things going for Oakland. That would lead to Stephen Piscotty forcing extras with a solo shot in the ninth, as the ball traveled over 400 feet to center field. They totaled 11 runs over the final four innings, all to improve to 33-21 on the road this season.
Oakland used four home runs to power their rally, which was a franchise-record third straight game that they hit that many. They have hit 92 away from home this season, which is tops in baseball. The A's rallied from eight runs down in the sixth inning or later for the first time since August 30th, 1939, when the team was in Philadelphia. On the other end, the Rangers were 471-0 all-time when leading by eight runs in the seventh inning or later before Tuesday night.
Marcus Semien and Jed Lowrie both contributed to the improbable rally with three RBIs apiece, while Lowire and Mark Canha both added long balls on the night. Keone Kela gave up Piscotty's game-tying shot in the ninth, suffering his first blown save in 24 chances for Texas this season.
The Rangers did get a big night at the plate from Elvis Andrus, who connected with his first-career grand slam and drove in a career-high tying five runs. Although, his error at shortstop sparked the Athletics' eighth-inning rally, which played a major role in Oakland's late-game heroics. Following the Seattle Mariners' loss to the San Francisco Giants, the A's sit just 1.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot in the American League. They are back in Arlington for two more games with the Rangers on Wednesday and Thursday.
