OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Marcus Semien homered and scored the game-winning run on a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the ninth inning as the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 on Sunday.
Texas led 5-4 in the ninth with José Leclerc (1-3) pitching for a third straight day, seeking his sixth save. His blown save was his third.
Leclerc walked Khris Davis with the bases loaded and one out after Matt Olson singled in Chris Hermann with the tying run.
Hermann singled leading off the ninth and Semien followed with a walk.
Danny Santana was 3 for 4 with a homer and a double for Texas. Nomar Mazara also went deep for the Rangers, winless in eight straight series. They are 0-6-2 since sweeping Detroit from June 25-27.
Santana was 8 for 19 in the series with two homers, two doubles, a triple and nine RBIs. His eight hits matched the most by a Rangers player in any series this season.
Texas rallied from a 4-2 deficit in the eighth when Willie Calhoun‘s RBI double off closer Liam Hendriks highlighted a three-run inning.
A’s manager Bob Melvin summoned Hendriks looking for a five-out save after Shin-Soo Choo singled and Santana doubled to start the eighth against Joakim Soria.
Blake Treinen (4-3) worked a scoreless ninth for the win.
Oakland starter Mike Fiers, seeking his eighth straight win, gave up two runs in six innings of four-hit ball. He struck out six and walked four. The 34-year-old right-hander is unbeaten over his last 15 starts with a 2.30 ERA in 97 2/3 innings during that stretch.
Rangers starter Pedro Payano gave up three runs over 5 1/3 innings in his first career start.
Semien homered off Payano leading off the fourth. His 17th of the season broke a scoreless tie.
Santana hit his 15th home run leading off the sixth against Fiers, and Mazara connected on his 15th two batters later.
MINOR MOVE
The Rangers pushed back left-hander Mike Minor‘s next scheduled start from Tuesday to Wednesday. Minor has been the subject of trade speculation in recent weeks, and the move bumps his upcoming outing until after Wednesday’s deadline, avoiding the possibility of issues with interested teams, manager Chris Woodward said.
SHORT HOPS
Texas right-hander Edinson Vólquez, on the injured list with an elbow strain since April 5, told reporters he wants pitch again this year but plans to retire at the end of the season. … Right-hander Kyle Dowdy, a Rule 5 selection claimed by the Rangers during spring training, cleared waivers and was accepted back by the Cleveland Indians after Texas designated him for assignment on Thursday.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: C Josh Phegley left in the fifth with a bruised left thumb. . OF Stephen Piscotty (sprained right knee) had six at-bats as the DH in his first game on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Las Vegas on Saturday. He was scheduled to play seven innings in the field on Sunday, Melvin said.
UP NEXT
Rangers: RHP Ariel Jurado (6-6, 4.83 ERA) will pitch Tuesday’s series opener against Seattle. The Rangers have lost five of his last seven starts.
Athletics: RHP Chris Bassitt (7-5, 4.09) goes Tuesday against Milwaukee. Bassitt is 0-3 with a 3.98 ERA in six career interleague starts.
