The Texas Rangers are heating up at just the right time, and on Saturday night, their offense exploded once again in a 9-3 win over the Oakland Athletics at Sutter Health Park. With playoff hopes hanging in the balance, Texas put together a relentless performance at the plate, piling up 17 hits and showcasing the kind of firepower that made them World Series contenders just a season ago.
The victory marked the Rangers’ fourth straight win and their seventh in the last eight games, as they closed the gap in the American League Wild Card race to just 2.5 games behind the Seattle Mariners.
Stars, Rookies, and Depth All Deliver
Third baseman Josh Jung led the charge with three hits and two RBIs, continuing his strong return from the injured list and reminding fans why he was an All-Star last season. The 26-year-old has been a steady presence in the heart of the order since coming back, and Saturday was another example of his impact with the bat.
Rookie sensation Wyatt Langford also made his mark — in more ways than one. He lined a solo homer that just cleared the left field wall and later robbed a potential extra-base hit — or even a home run — with a leaping grab at the wall. The 22-year-old has steadily improved on both sides of the ball and is showing signs of becoming a franchise cornerstone.
Meanwhile, utility man Dylan Moore put the game out of reach in the ninth with a towering two-run homer, and Adolis García continued to swing a hot bat, collecting three hits and scoring twice.
Texas saw contributions up and down the lineup, with Kyle Higashioka and Michael Helman each tallying two hits and two RBIs. Langford also added two hits and two runs, as every player in the lineup either recorded a hit or reached base.
New Arm, Same Dominance: Merrill Kelly Settles In
On the mound, Merrill Kelly (11-7) turned in another strong outing, scattering six hits and three runs over 6 1/3 innings without issuing a walk. Acquired from Arizona at the trade deadline to help stabilize the rotation, Kelly has delivered consistent performances, going 2-1 in six starts with Texas. His presence has been especially crucial with Max Scherzer out and Nathan Eovaldi being managed carefully down the stretch.
Kelly’s ability to pitch to contact and avoid free passes helped him work efficiently against an Oakland lineup that still features pop — even without injured slugger Nick Kurtz (oblique).
Athletics’ Rookie Debut Falls Flat
It was a tough welcome to the big leagues for Mason Barnett, the A’s 24-year-old right-hander making his MLB debut. Barnett was tagged for five runs and eight hits in just over four innings, though he did show flashes of promise with solid command (no walks). But against a red-hot Rangers lineup, the margin for error was razor-thin.
The Rangers jumped on Barnett early, putting up three runs in the second thanks to an RBI single by Higashioka and a clutch two-run double by Helman. Jung added a run-scoring double in the third, and Langford’s homer to start the fifth chased Barnett from the game.
A’s Try to Rally, But Texas Keeps Pushing
To their credit, the A’s didn’t go quietly. Outfielder Lawrence Butler crushed a 448-foot solo homer to straightaway center, followed by a 405-foot shot from Brent Rooker, who had three hits of his own. Carlos Cortes added an RBI double in the seventh to trim the lead to 7-3.
But that was as close as Oakland would get. In the ninth, after another hit from García, Moore launched his homer to left-center, putting the game out of reach and stamping a dominant win.
Postseason Push Gets Real
With September approaching, every game matters — and the Rangers know it. Saturday’s win not only kept their Wild Card hopes alive but sent a message that Texas is finding its rhythm at the right time.
The victory also underscored the depth of this team. Veterans are delivering, rookies are stepping up, and midseason acquisitions like Kelly are stabilizing key areas. The Rangers are now just 2.5 games back of the final AL Wild Card spot, and their next few series could define whether October baseball returns to Arlington.
What’s Next
Texas will look to complete the sweep in Sunday’s series finale before heading into a pivotal stretch that includes games against the division-leading Astros and fellow Wild Card hopefuls.
For a team that has battled injuries, inconsistency, and pressure all season, Saturday’s performance was a reminder: the Rangers are far from done.
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