- Commissioner’s statement on Ventura, Marte
- Ronnie O’Sullivan: Masters champion ‘felt so vulnerable’ in final
- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Kingery makes MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- New Zealand wrap up 2-0 after Bangladesh implosion
- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
- Elliott hopes for rain for Poli
Texas’ magic number at 6 with walk-off vs. A’s
- Updated: September 17, 2016
ARLINGTON — Cole Hamels’ struggles continued on Friday night, but in the end it didn’t matter, as a two-run walk-off single by Jonathan Lucroy in the ninth propelled the Rangers to their Major League-leading 45th comeback victory, 7-6, over the A’s at Globe Life Park.
Carlos Beltran got the rally started with a one-out double, his second of the game, off A’s closer Ryan Madson. Pinch-runner Delino DeShields immediately advanced to third on a wild pitch with Adrian Beltre at the plate. Beltre worked a walk and was replaced by pinch-runner Joey Gallo. After Rougned Odor struck out and Gallo stole second, Lucroy delivered the winning hit just past the dive of third baseman Ryon Healy down the left-field line, snapping Oakland’s four-game win streak.
“It’s an amazing group of guys who have a desire to win,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. “That component, other teams could probably say that about their guys, but this is a group of guys who put it into action.”
With the Mariners losing to the Astros, the Rangers’ lead in the American League West increased to 9 1/2 games, and their magic number is now 6.
Hamels gave up six-plus runs for the third time in his last four starts. Two innings proved to be his undoing — a three-run fourth and a three-run sixth. Both innings were highlighted by home runs, with Khris Davis hitting a two-run shot in the fourth and Brett Eibner adding a three-run homer in the sixth.
All three of Hamels’ walks came in those innings, and he regained the AL lead in that category, with 75.
“The walks definitely hurt me again,” Hamels said. “That’s about four games where they’ve been the deciding factor of hampering what I was able to go out there and do. It’s unacceptable by my part in a sense of what’s expected and what I’m capable of doing.”
The Rangers threatened with back-to-back two-run innings in the fifth and sixth off A’s starter Kendall Graveman, who gave up four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings.
Carlos Gomez made it a one-run contest in the seventh with a solo shot to left that went a Statcast-estimated 401 feet. He’s hit five home runs with the Rangers, matching his total in 85 games with the Astros.
“We’ve been swinging the bat well and expect to score some runs, especially the way we’ve been playing,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “It’s just keeping these guys from scoring more than we do. I think it’s one of the better …
