Fast start powers A's to rout of Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Oakland second baseman Joey Wendle led off the game with his first career homer and Raul Alcantara collected his first career win as the Athletics blasted the Texas Rangers 11-2 Saturday night.
The loss kept the Texas magic number at clinching the American League West at six while the A's have now won five of their last six.
Wendle's homer set the tone for the kind of night it would be for Texas starter Yu Darvish (5-5). The A's tagged him for seven earned runs in five innings of work. The seven earned matched the most Darvish has allowed in a start.
The Texas right-hander struggled with his command and the A's took advantage of it. Darvish walked the first three batters in the second inning and all three came around to score as Bruce Maxwell delivered a two-run single and Wendle added a sacrifice fly to push the lead to 4-0.
Oakland made it 7-0 in the fifth as Darvish retired the first two batters before Ryon Healy singled and Yonder Alonso walked. Marcus Semien followed that with a three-run homer to left, his 26th of the season. Darvish struck out eight, walked four and gave up seven hits.
Alcantara (1-1), making his third career start, gave up two runs on five hits in 5 2.3 innings while striking out three. The Rangers didn't score against him until Carlos Gomez hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning.
Danny Valencia added a three-run homer for the A's in the eighth inning. Valencia, Wendle, Maxwell and Semien each had two hits. Carlos Beltran and Gomez each had two hits for Texas.
The A's tagged Darvish for a seven earned runs in five innings, which matched his career high.
Wendle opened the game with a solo homer and the A's added three runs in the second as Darvish walked three straight batters to open the inning. Semien boosted the lead to 7-0 in the fifth with a three-run homer to left.
Darvish struck out eight but walked four and gave up seven hits.
NOTES: The Rangers are undecided on who will start Wednesday's game against Los Angeles. It will be either LHP Cole Hamels or LHP Derek Holland. ... Texas designated hitter Prince Fielder, who won't play anymore because of neck issues, was with the team Saturday for the first time since making his announcement last month. ... Texas OF Shin-Soo Choo took 40 swings with a bat as he rehabs from a fractured left forearm. He hopes to be ready for the postseason. ... OF Khris Davis needs one homer to match Frank Thomas for the most by an Oakland player in the last 15 years. Frank Thomas hit 39 in 2006. ... Athletics RHP Sonny Gray threw a bullpen Saturday and hasn't been ruled out of pitching again this season. He's been on the disabled list since Aug. 7 with a strained right forearm.