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Despite loss, Rangers’ magic number at 5
- Updated: September 18, 2016
ARLINGTON — The Rangers’ march to a division title was stalled on Saturday night while Athletics rookie right-hander Raul Alcantara was busy earning his first Major League victory.
Alcantara, given a 7-0 lead after five innings, outpitched Rangers starter Yu Darvish, and the Athletics held on for an 11-2 victory at Globe Life Park. Despite the loss, the Rangers saw their magic number shrink to 5 following the Mariners’ loss to the Astros in Seattle. The Athletics have won five of their last six games.
Alcantara, making his third Major League start, retired 15 of the first 17 batters he faced, giving up just two singles in the first five innings. Carlos Gomez hit a two-run home run off him in the sixth before the Athletics’ bullpen took over at 5 2/3 innings.
Darvish tied a career high by giving up seven runs. It’s the fourth time he has allowed seven in a game and the first since June 17, 2014, against the Athletics. He allowed seven hits and four walks and struck out eight. This marks the 10th time in Rangers history that a pitcher has allowed at least seven runs while still striking out at least eight batters in a game. It last happened in 2001.
MOMENTS THAT MATTEREDWendle’s first career blast: A’s second baseman Joey Wendle sent the third pitch …
