Athletics at Rangers (Game 1)
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: 2:05 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Paul Blackburn (2018: 2-3, 7.16 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Joe Palumbo (NR)
Blackburn is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas to make his 17th major-league start and first appearance of the season. The 25-year-old Californian has had 11 turns with the Aviators this year, going 6-1 with a 4.55 ERA. Blackburn, who will be facing Texas for the first time in his career, is 5-4 with a 4.48 ERA over two campaigns with the Athletics.
Palumbo will be making the jump from Double-A Frisco to appear in his first major-league contest. The 24-year-old New Yorker has made nine starts and one relief appearance with the RoughRiders this season, posting a 3.38 ERA and registering 65 strikeouts over 50 2/3 innings without recording a decision. Palumbo, who is the seventh-ranked prospect in Texas' organization by MLB Pipeline, was selected in the 30th round of the 2013 draft.
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. 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.