Athletics Halt Three-Game Slide with 8-3 Victory Over Rangers

The Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers 8–3 on Friday night at Sutter Health Park, ending a three-game losing streak. Jeff McNeil recorded four hits, three RBIs and a go-ahead solo home run. Lawrence Butler added two homers, including a 411-foot shot in the seventh inning. Starting pitcher Gage Jump worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits while issuing four walks and striking out one. Reliever Luis Medina earned the win, finishing the game with a 3-3 record.

ESPNJeff McNeil Leads A’s to 8-3 Victory Over Rangers Game #122: Rangers at Athletics Game Thread NBC 5 - Dallas - Fort Worth - KXASSports Illustrated

The game opened a three-game intradivisional series. The Athletics entered the weekend with the league’s worst overall record (47-74) and a 21-39 mark at home, the second consecutive season without a home win in May. The Rangers, at 60-62, were second in the AL West. Both clubs were seeking to improve their positions in the division race.

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• Team totals: Athletics 8 runs, 12 hits, 4 walks; Rangers 3 runs, 4 hits, 5 walks.

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• Home runs: McNeil (5th of season), Butler (10th of season, third consecutive game), Jake Burger (Rangers, 20th of season, 428-foot three-run blast).

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• Pitching: Jump (5 1/3 IP, 3 R, 3 H, 4 BB, 1 K); Medina (relief, 2 IP, 1 R, 1 H, 1 K, win). Rangers starter Kumar Rocker (4 IP, 3 R, 4 BB).

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• Season context: Athletics’ batting average ranked fifth in the AL at .243; Rangers’ collective batting average .242 (eighth in the AL).

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• 1st inning: After a hit-by-pitch and a single, Carlos Cortes hit a double that cleared the bases, giving Oakland a 3–0 lead.

Jeff McNeil Leads A’s to 8-3 Victory Over Rangers

• 6th inning: Jake Burger hit a 428-foot three-run homer, tying the game at 3–3 and ending Jump’s start.

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• 6th inning (later): McNeil’s solo homer off reliever Chase Silseth put the Athletics ahead 4–3.

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• 7th inning: Butler’s 411-foot solo shot extended the lead to 5–3.

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• 8th inning: Pinch-hitter Tommy White singled, later scoring on a fielder’s-choice error for the sixth run; McNeil’s double drove in two more, finalizing the 8–3 margin.

Jeff McNeil Leads A’s to 8-3 Victory Over Rangers

The win snapped Oakland’s three-game slide and marked the franchise’s first home victory of the month, providing a morale boost for a team struggling at the bottom of the standings. The offensive outburst, highlighted by McNeil’s near-cycle and Butler’s back-to-back power displays, demonstrated the potential for the Athletics to generate runs despite a depleted lineup. Defensively, the bullpen’s ability to hold the Rangers to a single run after the sixth inning helped stabilize a rotation that has been inconsistent throughout the season.

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The series continues on Saturday, with Texas left-hander Mackenzie Gore (6-9, 4.43 ERA) slated to start against Oakland right-hander J.T. Ginn (8-6, 3.41 ERA). Both clubs will look to build on Friday’s results as the season approaches its final 41 games.

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