OAKLAND, California – Starling Marte hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the 11th inning, allowing the Oakland Athletics to beat the Texas Rangers 4-1 on Friday night.
Tony Kemp made the last out of the 10th and started the 11th inning at second base. After Mark Canha was hit by a pitch, Marte hit a three-run home run off Texas Rangers pitcher Jimmy Herget (0-1) that cleared the left-field fence. It was Oakland’s fourth hit of the game.
It was the Athletics’ second straight win and 10th overall, tying Colorado for the most in the majors.
Yusmeiro Petit (8-1) retired three batters for the victory.
Acquired from the Miami Marlins before the trade deadline, Marte also had a single in the sixth. The A’s have won six of eight.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits for the Rangers. Texas has lost 12 consecutive times on the road.
Oakland loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth, but only had one run. Matt Olson scored on a Mitch Moreland double play.
Curtis Terry doubled off A’s starting pitcher Chris Bassitt in the fifth and scored on a Kiner-Falefa single to tie it at one.
Athletics first baseman Matt Olson made a key defensive play in the top of the ninth when he jumped to catch a high pitch from shortstop Elvis Andrus and touched Adolis Garcia as he arrived. First base umpire Chris Guccione initially declared Garcia safe before the decision was overturned on replay.
With one out in the 10th, Rangers center fielder DJ Peters ejected Josh Harrison, who was trying to advance to third on a fly ball from Kemp.
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