Athletics at Rangers
The Texas Rangers hope to pick up where they left off in the series opener when they conclude their two-game set against the visiting Oakland Athletics on Wednesday. Texas trailed by two runs on Tuesday before scoring twice in the seventh inning and three times in the eighth en route to a 7-4 victory.
The Rangers belted a season-high five home runs in the triumph, including Adrian Beltre's leadoff shot in the eighth that snapped the 4-4 tie and Joey Gallo's two-run blast - his 16th of the year - later in the frame that sealed the win in the opener of their six-game homestand. Beltre's homer was just his second in 33 contests this season while Shin-Soo Choo's two-run shot in the seventh extended his hitting streak to 12 games. Oakland, which fell to 2-2 on its five-game road trip, received five of its 10 hits in the loss from Matt Olson (three) and Khris Davis (two). Each player drove in two runs, with Olson raising his RBI total to 11 over his last five games and Davis ending a seven-game drought with his 14th homer of 2018 - which gave the Athletics a blast in 18 straight road contests.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Daniel Mengden (6-4, 2.91 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Bartolo Colon (2-3, 4.21)
Mengden is riding a winning streak that reached four starts on Thursday, when he allowed three runs and six hits over eight innings against Tampa Bay. The 25-year-old Texan has worked at least seven frames in each of his last three turns and tossed 16 scoreless innings in two outings before facing the Rays. Mengden fell to 1-2 with a 3.09 ERA in four career starts against Texas after yielding four runs - three earned - in 5 1/3 frames on April 5.
Colon makes his fourth attempt at career victory No. 243, which will tie him with Juan Marichal for most by a pitcher from the Dominican Republic. The 45-year-old lasted only three innings against the Angels in Los Angeles on Friday as he was battered for six runs and eight hits - two homers - en route to his third loss in four decisions. Colon is 9-6 with one shutout and a 3.33 ERA in 22 career starts and one relief appearance versus Oakland, including a no-decision in his season debut on April 2 in which he gave up one run over six frames.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Athletics sent RHP Santiago Casilla (shoulder) to Single-A Stockton on a rehab assignment.
2. Texas parted ways with veteran RHP Tim Lincecum (finger), who was activated from the 60-day disabled list and released on Tuesday.
3. Oakland activated RHP Liam Hendriks (groin) from the 10-day disabled list and recalled C Josh Phegley from Triple-A Nashville while placing Daniel Gossett (elbow) on the 10-day DL and optioning fellow RHP Josh Lucas to the Sounds.