Jeff McNeil goes 4 for 5 as the Athletics beat the Rangers 8-3

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jeff McNeil was 4 for 5 with three RBIs including the go-ahead home run as the Athletics snapped a three-game slide with an 8-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Lawrence Butler also went deep for the Athletics, who have lost 12 of their last 15 games.

A hit batter, a single, and a walk loaded the bases for Carlos Cortes in the first inning, and he drove a 1-2 slider from Kumar Rocker to right that emptied the bases and gave the Athletics a 3-0 lead.

It took until the sixth inning for the Rangers to respond. Jake Burger worked the count full and hit a 428-foot, three-run homer to left-center that tied the game and ended Gage Jump's start for the A's.

Jump threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on three hits while walking four and striking out one.

McNeil got the A's back in front with a 400-foot homer, his fifth of the season. It was a home run in every MLB ballpark, per Statcast.

Butler tacked on a 411-footer in the seventh to double the Athletics' lead, and three more came across in the eighth.

Four relievers combined to give up one hit 3 2/3 innings, including Luis Medina (3-3) who earned the win.

Texas was held to four hits, and were 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position. Chase Silseth (3-3) took the loss after allowing one run in one inning.

Rangers LHP Mackenzie Gore (6-9, 4.43 ERA) starts opposite A's RHP J.T. Ginn (8-6, 3.41) as the series continues on Saturday.

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Athletics' Lawrence Butler runs the bases after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Texas Rangers' Jake Burger runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics' Carlos Cortes runs after hitting a three-RBI double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics pitcher Gage Jump throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

Athletics' Jeff McNeil, left, high-fives Lawrence Butler (4) after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Jac Caglianone homered and drove in five runs on a three-hit night, Michael Massey also homered and had three hits and the Kansas City Royals beat the Los Angeles Angels 7-6 on Friday to snap a four-game losing streak.

John Schreiber, Nate Pearson and Steven Cruz threw scoreless relief innings for the Royals, with Cruz finishing for his fourth save.

Nolan Schanuel had two hits and four RBIs for the Angels. They had won three straight.

After Josh Lowe’s solo homer off Alex Lange (2-7) gave the Angels a 6-5 lead in the sixth, Kansas City scored twice off Tayler Saucedo (0-1) in the seventh to make it 7-6.

Caglianone is batting .438 (21 for 48) with five homers and 18 RBIs during a 12-game hitting streak. In the ninth, he took second on an error and scored on Massey’s two-out RBI single to finish the scoring.

Caglianone’s two-run homer — his 22nd of the season — off left-hander Sammy Peraltagave Kansas City a 5-4 lead in the fifth.

Royals starter Seth Lugo allowed five runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.

Royals RHP Randy Dobnak (2-1, 2.00 ERA) was set to oppose Angels LHP Reid Detmers (3-8, 4.00 ERA) on Saturday night.

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Los Angeles Angels' Josh Lowe runs after hitting a home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone is greeted by teammates after scoring during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Kansas City Royals pitcher Steven Cruz, right, is greeted by teammates after defeating the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone, left, is greeted by first base coach Damon Hollins (39) after hitting a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)

Kansas City Royals' Jac Caglianone hits a two-run home run during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/William Liang)