Corey Seager hits a 3-run homer in the 8th inning to rally the Rangers past the A's 4-2

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Corey Seager hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning and the Texas Rangers rallied past the Oakland Athletics 4-2 on Monday night.

The defending World Series champions were trailing 2-0 until Seager drilled a full-count pitch from Lucas Erceg (1-2) over the right-center wall with two outs. Texas added an insurance run in the ninth on an error by first baseman Tyler Nevin.

Erceg threw six straight changeups to Seager, and the last one leaked out over the plate.

“I think (Josh Smith) had a good at-bat, Leody (Taveras) put a good swing on the ball — and I just got fortunate enough to get the worn-down version,” Seager said.

Kirby Yates got three outs for his sixth save.

The A's, who are leaving Oakland at the end of this season for Sacramento while they await a new stadium in Las Vegas, drew a season-low 2,895 fans at the Coliseum.

Texas has won four of five, and tied a season high with its three-game win streak. The A’s have dropped two in a row after winning six straight.

Darell Hernaiz and Esteury Ruiz each had a sacrifice fly for Oakland.

Rangers starter Andrew Heaney allowed two runs in six-plus innings as he dueled with counterpart Alex Wood, who pitched six scoreless innings. Texas was 0-6 in games started by Heaney entering Monday.

“Just try to manage to keep the game close, keep plugging away, give those guys a chance," Heaney said. "It's a good feeling knowing that we've got guys like (Seager) and Marcus (Semien) and the guys that ... can come in in big situations and get those big hits, and obviously win the game for us.”

José Leclerc (3-2) struck out two in a hitless inning for the win.

A's manager Mark Kotsay said his team needed a good outing from Wood, who delivered his first quality start of the season.

“Six innings, two hits, mixing his pitches — just a really well-executed game plan," Kotsay said. “A well-pitched game tonight.”

Rangers skipper Bruce Bochy, who spent 13 seasons managing the San Francisco Giants and won three World Series titles with them, reminisced about his time in the Bay Area before the game. He also caught up with Kotsay, who played for Bochy in San Diego.

“It’s always good to get back in the Bay,” Bochy said. “I love the Bay. It just feels good, the air.”

Bochy is sad the A’s will be departing Oakland, describing “good battles” as part of the Bay Bridge rivalry series with the Giants.

“We came in here just like they came in our place, trying to do all you can to be wearing the horns in the Bay Area,” Bochy said. “But it will be sad that it’s going to be over. Probably. I can’t say definitely.”

TRAINER'S ROOM

Rangers: Rookie OF Wyatt Langford (hamstring strain) was placed on the 10-day injured list. … RHP Nathan Eovaldi (groin) does not have a sports hernia and isn’t expected to need a minor league rehab assignment before coming off the 15-day injured list.

Athletics: OF Esteury Ruiz was back in the lineup and playing through a sprained wrist sustained Saturday. He underwent an MRI. … RHP Joe Boyle (back) was placed on the 15-day injured list after being lifted from Sunday’s start. He will be held back from baseball activity for a while. … RHP Luis Medina (knee) and LHP Sean Newcomb (knee) will both face hitters in Arizona this week.

UP NEXT

RHP Ross Stripling (1-5, 4.24 ERA) pitches Tuesday for Oakland against Rangers RHP José Ureña (0-2, 4.35).

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Oakland Athletics pitcher Alex Wood throws to a Texas Rangers batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Texas Rangers pitcher Andrew Heaney throws to an Oakland Athletics batter during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Texas Rangers shortstop Corey Seager throws to first base for an out against Oakland Athletics' Tyler Nevin during the first inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager, right, runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run against Oakland Athletics pitcher Lucas Erceg, foreground, during the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager, right, celebrates with Adolis García, right, after hitting a three-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Texas Rangers' Corey Seager watches his three-run home run against the Oakland Athletics during the eighth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 6, 2024, in Oakland, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

ISLAMABAD (AP) — More heavy rains in Afghanistan have triggered flash floods, raising the death toll to 47 in the country's north following weeks of devastating torrents that had already left hundreds dead and missing, a Taliban spokesman said Sunday.

The new round of heavy rains and floods hit three districts in Faryab province Saturday night, destroying houses and farmlands, said Shamsuddin Mohammadi, the provincial director of information. Earlier reports from Faryab put the death toll at 18 but officials said they were still preliminary figures.

Afghanistan has been witnessing unusually heavy seasonal rains.

In the hard-hit western province of Ghor, 50 people were reported dead from Friday’s floods, according to Abdul Wahid Hamas, spokesman for the provincial governor.

The U.N. food agency said Ghor was the most affected by the floods. Last week, the World Food Program said the exceptionally heavy rains in Afghanistan had killed more than 300 people and destroyed thousands of houses, mostly in the northern province of Baghlan.

Survivors have been left with no home, no land, and no source of livelihood, WFP said, adding that most of Baghlan was inaccessible by trucks.

The latest disaster came on the heels of devastating floods that killed at least 70 people in April. The waters also destroyed about 2,000 homes, three mosques and four schools in western Farah and Herat, and southern Zabul and Kandahar provinces.

An Afghan man collects his belongings from his damaged home after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province killed dozens of people and dozens remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)

Afghan men collect their belongings from their damaged home after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province killed dozens of people and dozens remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)

Afghan men collect their belongings from their damaged homes after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province killed dozens of people and dozens remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)

A damaged house is seen after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province killed dozens of people and many remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)

An Afghan couple sit near their damaged home after heavy flooding in Ghor province in western Afghanistan, Saturday, May 18, 2024. Flash floods from heavy seasonal rains in Ghor province dozens of people and dozens remain missing, a Taliban official said on Saturday, adding the death toll was based on preliminary reports and might rise. (AP Photo/Omid Haqjoo)