The Athletics are finally in the win column.
After opening spring 0-4, Oakland punched early and held on for a 7-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Thursday at Hohokam Stadium, riding a six-run first two innings that put the game on rails.
Texas did not record a hit through the first two frames, and the A’s lineup wasted no time making Cal Quantrill work. Shea Langeliers started the first-inning rally with an infield single, Tyler Soderstrom followed with a sharp ground-ball single, and Brent Rooker brought home the first run with a line-drive single to left.
Jeff McNeil kept it rolling with a run-scoring double to right, and Oakland left the inning up 2-0.
Second inning turns into a statement
The A’s blew it open in the second. Darell Hernaiz doubled, Denzel Clarke was hit by a pitch, then Soderstrom delivered the inning’s loudest swing that stayed in the park, a two-run single to center that made it 4-0.
Two batters later, Rooker made it 6-0 with a two-run homer to right-center, his first of the spring. Oakland finished the day with nine hits, with Soderstrom going 2 for 3 with two RBIs and Rooker driving in three.
Perkins clean early, bullpen bends late
Jack Perkins set the tone on the mound, working two scoreless innings without allowing a hit. Texas finally got on the board in the fifth on Tyler Wade’s solo homer off Joel Kuhnel.
The Rangers chipped again in the sixth, then made noise in the seventh on Marcos Torres’ homer. But Oakland’s offense had already built enough margin, and Nick Hernandez and Brooks Kriske closed it with two scoreless innings.
Up next
The A’s play the Royals at 12:05 p.m. PT on Friday.
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Dice City Sports editor Mark Hebert covers the Vegas Golden Knights, Las Vegas Raiders, Athletics, and UNLV baseball and softball. He has 24 years of journalism experience, is also a senior reporter at Exhibit City News, and previously covered the Dallas Stars and Texas Rangers. Follow him on X or connect on LinkedIn.
