Athletics bust out in 9th with 2-run homer by Rooker

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP)– Brent Rooker hit a tiebreaking two-run homer in the ninth inning and Lawrence Butler followed with his first career grand slam as the Sports beat the Texas Rangers 7-1 on Wednesday night.Rooker was the

very first batter to face Luke Jackson after Tyler Soderstrom led off the inning with a single off Robert Garcia (1-1). Rooker launched a 1-1 fastball to left field, his eighth of the season. After the A’s packed the bases with a single and two strolls by Jackson, Butler took Shawn Armstrong deep to center for his 5th homer.Advertisement Grant Holman(3-0)pitched a scoreless seventh and eighth.The Athletics have won 6 of eight, while

the Rangers have actually lost 8 of 12. Jacob Wilson provided the A’s a 1-0 lead in the

third inning with a perfectly put bunt single in between the mound and first base to score JJ Bleday, who opened the inning with a double off the right-field wall.Adolis García singled home Marcus Semien in the 4th, tying it at 1-all

. Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi enabled one run and 6 hits in six innings, striking out 8 and walking none. He has 46 strikeouts and three walks, a 15.33 strikeout-to-walk ratio that leads the majors.Advertisement Sports starter Luis Severino permitted one run and 8 hits in 5 innings, leaving after allowing back-to-back singles opening the sixth.Texas’offense fell back after scoring a season-high 15 runs Tuesday following a stretch of scoring just 11 runs over six games.Key minute Jackson, with 8 conserves in

9 possibilities, had a hard time in a non-save scenario after 2 of his three previous trips led to walk-off losses.Key stat The Rangers were 1 for 11 with runners in scoring position and left 11 men on base.Up next Thursday’s ending of the four-game series will pit Rangers RHP Tyler Mahle(3-0, 1.14 PERIOD )against Sports LHP Jeffrey Springs(3-3, 6.04). ___ AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb