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Walk-off, Texas Ranger: Beltre HR boots A’s
- Updated: July 26, 2016
ARLINGTON — Adrian Beltre hit a walk-off two-run home run against A’s closer Ryan Madson in the ninth inning Monday evening, sending the Rangers to a thrilling 7-6 series-opening victory at Globe Life Park.
It was the second homer of the night for Beltre, who lined the first pitch he saw from Madson into the left-center field seats with two outs to bring home pinch-runner Ryan Rua following Nomar Mazara’s one-out single. Beltre, who owns nine career walk-off home runs, also homered in the seventh agaisnt John Axford to cut Oakland’s lead to one run.
“What superlatives do you want me to put on it? You can use them all,” Rangers manager Jeff Banister said of Beltre’s night. “This is a guy who leads this ball club on the field. It’s what he does. You can see it on his face, he knows what’s at stake. Two special at-bats tonight, none bigger than the last one.”
The blast spoiled a three-RBI night from Oakland’s Danny Valencia, who launched a two-run homer and also collected one of four A’s doubles counted off in a three-run third inning against Rangers left-hander Martin Perez..
“I felt like we were in control the whole game,” A’s shortstop Marcus Semien said. “When we come out hot early we do well, and we did. Adrian just had a great game tonight. He comes up with two homers and keeps them in the game. Those are tough, but we’ve done it to other teams too.”
Oakland starter Daniel Mengden lasted just 4 2/3 innings, allowing four runs on seven hits, including a solo home run by Ian Desmond in the first, his 19th of the year. Bobby Wilson tagged Mengden for an RBI double in the fourth, and Rougned Odor added a two-run single in the fifth. The A’s got their last run in the seventh, on Josh Reddick’s RBI base hit.
MOMENTS THAT MATTERED
Flirting with disaster: After blowing two games ahead of the All-Star break, Madson returned with an improved fastball that had him rounding back into form of late. But Madson’s overconfidence in the pitch perhaps hurt him when Beltre …
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