Athletics at Rangers (Game 2)
Marcus Semien delivered a smashing performance at the plate for the Oakland Athletics in the series opener and has a chance to provide two more on Saturday, when the team visits the Texas Rangers for a day-night doubleheader. Semien capped a 4-for-5 effort with a two-run homer in the ninth inning, giving Oakland a 5-3 victory in the first contest of the four-game set.
It was the second blast of the night for Semien, who belted a solo shot in the fifth and scored three times during his first four-hit outing since Oct. 1, 2016. Matt Olson went 2-for-4 with an RBI for the Athletics, who have won three of four after enduring a five-game losing streak. Delino DeShields collected three hits and Hunter Pence homered for the second time in two nights for the Rangers, who had won seven of their previous nine contests. Texas rallied from a two-run deficit to take a 3-2 lead but squandered it and failed to cash in on bases-loaded, one-out situations in both the seventh and ninth innings.
TV: 9:05 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Chris Bassitt (3-1, 3.42 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Adrian Sampson (4-3, 4.14)
Bassitt is coming off a no-decision against Houston on Sunday in which he gave up three runs and six hits over six innings. The 30-year-old native of Ohio has won each of his last two decisions, one in which he yielded five runs over five frames and another in which he scattered four hits over eight scoreless innings. Bassitt is 1-1 with a 5.25 ERA in two starts and two relief appearances - the victory coming on April 22, when he allowed two hits and issued four walks over five frames in his season debut.
Sampson lost his first seven decisions in the major leagues, including three this season, but has won each of his last four appearances. The 27-year-old from Washington state has allowed one earned run in three of the triumphs, including a start against Kansas City on Sunday in which he permitted eight hits while registering 11 strikeouts over seven innings - the latter two being career highs. Sampson has given up 10 runs and 13 hits over 7 1/3 frames versus Oakland in three career games, including one start and one relief appearance this year.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rangers will retire former 3B Adrian Beltre's No. 29 during a ceremony prior to the nightcap on Saturday.
2. Semien is 9-for-19 with two homers and seven RBIs over his last four games.
3. 3. Texas placed Isiah Kiner-Falefa (finger) on the 10-day injured list on Friday and acquired fellow C Tim Federowicz from Cleveland for a player to be named.