Starting Lineups:

Athletics (13-12):

1) Nick Kurtz (L) 1B

2) Shea Langeliers (R) C

3) Carlos Cortes (L) DH

4) Tyler Soderstrom (L) LF

5) Jacob Wilson (R) SS

6) Jeff McNeil (L) 2B

7) Max Muncy (R) 3B

8) Lawrence Butler (L) RF

9) Zack Gelof (R) CF

Starting Pitcher: RHP Luis Severino (0-2, 6.20 ERA)

Texas Rangers (13-12):

1) Brandon Nimmo (L) RF

2) Joc Pederson (L) DH

3) Corey Seager (L) SS

4) Jake Burger (R) 1B

5) Josh Jung (R) 3B

6) Evan Carter (L) CF

7) Kyle Higashioka (R) C

8) Josh Smith (L) 2B

9) Alejandro Osuna (L) LF

Starting Pitcher: RHP Nathan Eovaldi (2-3, 5.86 ERA)

Globe Life Field, Arlington, TX — In the series opener between the A’s and the Texas Rangers, the A’s beat the Rangers 8-1 thanks to the long ball. The A’s would hit four home runs off the Rangers’ starter Nathan Eovaldi and another off the Rangers’ reliever Cal Quantrill.

The A’s jumped on Ranger’s starter Eovaldi in the top of the first thanks to 3 long balls — Nick Kurtz, Carlos Cortes, and Tyler Soderstrom all hit solo shots off of Eovaldi to put the A’s ahead 3-0.

The Rangers would get on the board in the bottom of the fourth inning.

Corey Seager hit a one-out double, and two batters later, Josh Jung put the Rangers on the board with an RBI ground-rule double, cutting into the lead 3-1, A’s.

Zack Gelof hit a single to left field in the top of the fifth inning. Nick Kurtz drew a walk in the next at bat, to put two on, with one away. Cortes would plate all three runs with a homer to right field, his second of the game, to put the A’s up 6-1.

The A’s would hit another homer in the top of the ninth inning.

Jeff McNeil would lead off the top of the ninth with a single to left field. Two batters later, Gelof would launch a two-run homer, the A’s fifth of the night, to put them ahead of the Rangers 8-1.

Nathan Eovaldi – photo courtesy of MLB.com

The Good: A’s starter Luis Severino would pitch a gem — he tossed 6 and two-thirds innings, giving up just one run, while striking out five. Severino earned his first win of the season tonight against the Rangers.

Honorable Mention: The A’s Carlos Cortes clubbed two home runs and drove in four in a productive night at the plate.

The Bad/The Ugly: Nathan Eovaldi couldn’t keep the ball in the yard against the A’s — as a team, the A’s hit four home runs off of Eovaldi, accounting for six runs. Eovaldi’s record is now 2-4, with a 5.79 ERA. Additionally, Rangers’ reliever Cal Quantrill gave up a two-run homer in the top of the ninth.

-Matt Koper

Founder of Koper’s Korner