Recap: Texas vs. Oakland
Sports Network | September 23, 2008
Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Travis Buck's RBI single in the top of the 11th pushed the Oakland Athletics over the Texas Rangers, 4-3, in the opener of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
Cliff Pennington led off the away 11th with a double to left off Luis Mendoza (3-8). After a one-out walk to Jeff Baisley, Buck singled through the hole on the right side of the infield to bring in the go-ahead run.
Santiago Casilla worked around a lead-off single in the bottom half to notch his second save of the season.
Pennington also added an RBI, while Alan Embree (2-4) took the win after 1 1/3 scoreless innings of relief. Rookie starter Greg Smith did not factor in the decision after allowing two runs on six hits in five innings on the hill for Oakland, which has won eight of nine.
Hank Blalock was 2-for-4 with two runs scored and a solo home run, while German Duran chipped in two hits, a run scored and an RBI for Texas, which has dropped five straight.
Mendoza was credited with the loss, and Kevin Millwood, winless in his last four starts, took a no-decision after giving up three runs -- two earned -- on eight hits with six strikeouts in a seven-inning start.
Texas scored in the home first on Milton Bradley's sacrifice fly to left.
Oakland answered with two runs in the second. With a pair in scoring position, Pennington hit a low liner up the middle. Jack Cust scored easily from third and Bobby Crosby crossed home after Josh Hamilton misplayed the ball in center.
Duran's single with the bases loaded tied the game in the bottom half, but Chris Davis was thrown out at the plate by left fielder Aaron Cunningham, as Kurt Suzuki held on to the ball after being barreled into.
Cust gave the visitors the lead again in the third, doubling in front of diving left fielder Marlon Byrd and scoring Ryan Sweeney.
Texas trailed 3-2 and did not register a hit off three Oakland relievers leading up to the ninth. But Blalock led off the frame and took a Brad Ziegler fastball over the wall in left-center to send the game into extra innings.
Millwood entered the game 0-2 with a 7.50 earned run average over his previous three starts...Smith was 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in four previous matchups with Texas...Oakland learned Monday the September 8th contest rained out against Baltimore will not be rescheduled...Texas has won 10 of the 17 meetings with the A's this season, but Oakland passed the Rangers into second place by a half-game in the American League West with its recent success.
