Miguel Andujar singled in a run the first and Jacob Wilson and Luis Urias added RBIs in the seventh and eighth innings to back the pitching of Jeffrey Springs and four relievers as the Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 3-0 on Thursday afternoon in the finale of a four-game American League West series in Arlington, Texas.
The Athletics won three of the games in the set and have captured three consecutive series to move a season-best two games above .500.
Springs (4-3) allowed just two hits over six innings while striking out one and walking one. Mason Miller pitched a perfect ninth to earn his 10th save.
Texas starter Tyler Mahle (3-1) had a solid performance wasted. He gave up one run on five hits over six innings, with six strikeouts and one walk but was abandoned by the Rangers’ bats.
The offensively challenged Rangers managed just three hits in the loss, all singles by Wyatt Langford, Marcus Semien and Jake Burger. Texas racked up a season-high 15 runs on Tuesday in its only win of the series; the Rangers scored just two runs combined in the other three games — all losses.
Texas was held scoreless over the final 14 innings of the series.
The Athletics broke on top in their opening at-bat when Andujar’s two-out single sent home Tyler Soderstrom, who had reached on a single.
Texas didn’t get its first hit until Langford’s one-out single in the fourth but flyouts by Josh Jung and Jonah Heim allowed Springs to get out of the inning.
The Rangers threatened again in the fifth on a single by Semien and an error by Andujar at third base that allowed Nick Ahmed to reach base. Both runners advanced on stolen bases but Springs struck out Tucker Barnhart to keep the lead.
The Athletics added to their lead in the seventh when Wilson’s two-out single to center field drove home pinch runner Max Schuemann from second. The Athletics made it 3-0 in the eighth when Brent Rooker walked, Andujar singled and JJ Bleday walked to load the bases to set the table for Urias’ sacrifice fly to right field.
