The Athletics did not ease into first place Friday night. They blasted their way back there.
Carlos Cortes homered twice, Nick Kurtz and Tyler Soderstrom joined the first-inning power show, and the A’s hammered the Rangers 8-1 at Globe Life Field. Luis Severino handled the rest, earning his first win of the season as the Athletics opened a key AL West series with a clean, loud win.
The A’s improved to 14-12 and moved back into first place, one game ahead of Texas. They also took a 3-2 edge in the season series against Texas.
The first inning had teeth
The Athletics put the game on tilt almost immediately.
Kurtz opened the night with a leadoff homer to right. After Shea Langeliers grounded out, Cortes drove a solo shot to right-center. Then Soderstrom followed with another solo homer to center, and the A’s had a 3-0 lead before Texas even came to the plate.
Nathan Eovaldi settled in for a while after that, but the first inning had already changed the game. The Rangers were chasing from the start, and Severino made sure they stayed there.
Cortes made it hurt
Texas scratched out its only run in the fourth. Corey Seager doubled, and Josh Jung brought him home with a ground-rule double to cut the lead to 3-1.
However, Cortes answered before the Rangers could make it tight.
Zack Gelof singled in the fifth, and Kurtz walked after an ABS challenge. With two outs, Cortes jumped Eovaldi again and sent a three-run homer to right. That swing made it 6-1 and turned a comfortable lead into control.
Cortes finished 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. It was the kind of middle-order punch the A’s needed after a series finale loss in Seattle.
Severino steadied everything
Severino did not need to be perfect. Still, he was steady, efficient enough, and sharp when Texas had traffic.
The right-hander worked 6 2/3 innings and allowed one run on six hits. He walked one and struck out five. Most importantly, he kept the Rangers from building a rally after Jung’s RBI double in the fourth.
Then the bullpen finished the job. Hogan Harris struck out Sam Haggerty to strand two runners in the seventh. Justin Sterner helped the A’s escape the eighth, and Luis Medina worked a clean ninth.
Numbers that mattered
The Athletics scored all eight runs on five homers.
Kurtz went 2-for-4 with a walk and his fifth homer. Soderstrom added his third homer, while Gelof capped the scoring with a two-run shot in the ninth, his first of the season. Jeff McNeil also had two hits and scored twice.
The A’s finished with nine hits and went 1-for-2 with runners in scoring position. Meanwhile, Texas had eight hits but went 1-for-6 in those spots and left seven on base.
In the end, the Athletics won this one with early thunder, a second Cortes swing, and the kind of start Severino had been chasing.
Up next
The Athletics continue the series Saturday at Globe Life Field. First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. PT.
Jeffrey Springs is scheduled to start for the A’s against Texas left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Springs enters at 3-1 with a 3.34 ERA, while Gore is 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA.
Related stories
A’s Hall of Fame adds Henderson, Ellis, Odom and Alderson in September
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
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.
