Stephen Piscotty homered and drove in three to back Chris Bassitt's winning season debut, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 6-1 Monday night to end a three-game skid.
Rangers shortstop Elvis Andrus left in the seventh inning as a precaution after being hit by a pitch in the first and bruising his right hand.
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Stephen Piscotty homered and drove in three to back Chris Bassitt's winning season debut, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 6-1 Monday night to end a three-game skid.
Matt Chapman added a sacrifice fly in the third as the A's built on their lead after Piscotty's solo drive in the second.
The Rangers couldn't capitalize on their chances for Mike Minor (2-2), who gave up four runs and four hits, struck out four and walked three in six innings.
Announced attendance was a dismal 8,073 — Oakland's lowest crowd of the year.
Zito is now a musician living in Nashville with his wife and two sons. A native Californian, Zito has teamed with Energy Upgrade California to do his part to be environmentally conscious. He now has a land line at home and turns off his cell phone at night.
Rangers: The Rangers are getting closer to having a healthy infield. Both 2B Rougned Odor (sprained right knee) and 1B Ronald Guzman (strained right hamstring) were scheduled to take live batting practice Tuesday, then at least Odor is set to join Triple-A Iowa in time to play a rehab game Wednesday — then join the Rangers on Friday or Saturday in Seattle. Guzman will stay a little bit longer with Iowa and could be back with Texas as soon as Tuesday at home against the Pirates.
Rangers: RHP Lance Lynn (2-1, 4.44 ERA) looks to win his third straight start, going on an extra day of rest.
Bassitt (1-0), called up from Triple-A Las Vegas last week, struck out seven and walked four over five innings, allowing two hits. He has won his last three decisions dating to last season.
Oakland Athletics' Matt Chapman runs to first base after hitting an RBI-sacrifice fly against the Texas Rangers in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Matt Chapman added a sacrifice fly in the third as the A's built on their lead after Piscotty's solo drive in the second.
Fernando Rodney pitched the ninth for his 907th career appearance, moving him past Cy Young for 24th on baseball's career list.
Oakland bounced back from a weekend sweep at home by the Blue Jays.
Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt works against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
The Rangers couldn't capitalize on their chances for Mike Minor (2-2), who gave up four runs and four hits, struck out four and walked three in six innings.
Texas had won two in a row.
The Rangers stranded baserunners in the first, second, fourth, fifth and sixth innings before pinch-hitter Patrick Wisdom's RBI double in the seventh.
Oakland Athletics pitcher Chris Bassitt works against the Texas Rangers in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Announced attendance was a dismal 8,073 — Oakland's lowest crowd of the year.
ECO-CONCIOUS ANTHEM
Former A's left-hander Barry Zito, the 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner, sang the national anthem acapella from a broadcast booth after asking everyone in the ballpark to join in on a night much of the power — mics, LED signage, speakers and video screen — was briefly turned off to bring awareness to saving energy.
Oakland Athletics' Marcus Semien, right, prepares to throw over Texas Rangers' Elvis Andrus (1) to complete a double play in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. Rangers' Nomar Mazara was out at first base on the play. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Zito is now a musician living in Nashville with his wife and two sons. A native Californian, Zito has teamed with Energy Upgrade California to do his part to be environmentally conscious. He now has a land line at home and turns off his cell phone at night.
"You hear about energy conservation but when you look at the sheer numbers of what's going on and how many millions of people live in California, if we're just doing little things like changing a couple light bulbs to LEDs or changing the filters on your HVAC vents, which I'm just learning how to do now as a man of the house every couple months, it just cuts down," Zito said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Texas Rangers pitcher Mike Minor works against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Rangers: The Rangers are getting closer to having a healthy infield. Both 2B Rougned Odor (sprained right knee) and 1B Ronald Guzman (strained right hamstring) were scheduled to take live batting practice Tuesday, then at least Odor is set to join Triple-A Iowa in time to play a rehab game Wednesday — then join the Rangers on Friday or Saturday in Seattle. Guzman will stay a little bit longer with Iowa and could be back with Texas as soon as Tuesday at home against the Pirates.
Athletics: LHP Brett Anderson could make his next start after spraining his left ankle Sunday, manager Bob Melvin said. ... 1B Matt Olson (right hand surgery) did baseball activities on the field, including soft-toss swings and agility work. He will take batting practice in the coming days and could begin a rehab assignment next week. ... RHP Lou Trivino was playing catch Sunday when the glare from the outfield seats got in his way and a ball hit him in the right thumb. The thumb was bandaged Monday and he wasn't expected to pitch the series opener, listed as day to day. ... Oakland recalled RHP Ryan Dull from Las Vegas and optioned LHP Ryan Buchter to Triple-A.
UP NEXT
Texas Rangers pitcher Mike Minor works against the Oakland Athletics in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
Rangers: RHP Lance Lynn (2-1, 4.44 ERA) looks to win his third straight start, going on an extra day of rest.
Athletics: RHP Frankie Montas (3-1, 2.70), who has given up just three hits in three of his four starts, doesn't have a decision in four previous appearances vs. Texas.
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Oakland Athletics' Stephen Piscotty, right, is congratulated by third base coach Matt Williams (4) after hitting a home run off Texas Rangers' Mike Minor in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, April 22, 2019, in Oakland, Calif. (AP PhotoBen Margot)
