Tarnok earns 1st MLB win as Athletics restrict AL West-leading Rangers to 4 hits in 2-0 victory

OAKLAND, Calif. — Freddy Tarnok threw 4 scoreless innings of aid for his first MLB win and 5 Oakland pitchers mixed for a four-hitter because the Athletics beat AL West-leading Texas 2-0 Wednesday to keep away from a sequence sweep and snap the Rangers’ eight-game profitable streak.

Zack Gelof hit his sixth homer of the season and rookie Esteury Riuiz singled, stole two bases to boost his season complete to 46 and scored the A’s first run.

Oakland, which has the worst file within the majors at 33-82, received for simply the eighth time in 23 video games because the All-Star break.

In the A’s clubhouse after the sport, Tarnok was handled to a celebration by his teammates, who doused him within the bathe space.

“Happy to finally get that win, throw up a zero, get a good outing in,” mentioned Tarnok, who missed the primary two months of the season with a strained pitching shoulder. “Got a little shower of multiple liquids in the shower, so it was slick.”

The Rangers entered the sport with their longest profitable streak since 2017 and main their division by three video games over the Houston Astros.

PHOTOS: Tarnok earns 1st MLB win as Athletics restrict AL West-leading Rangers to 4 hits in 2-0 victory

Texas, nonetheless, couldn’t handle a lot offense off an A’s pitching employees that entered the sport with the very best ERA (5.83) within the majors.

“That’s the story of the game,” Rangers supervisor Bruce Bochy mentioned. “The bats were quiet. We just couldn’t mount anything hardly offensively.”

Tarnok (1-1) anchored the A’s on the mound in aid of opener Austin Pruitt along with his longest and best outing of his profession. The 24-year-old rookie right-hander had 4 strikeouts and two walks, gave up two hits and allowed one runner previous first base.

“This kid’s been grinding through the rehab process and put a lot of work into getting back here,” A’s supervisor Mark Kotsay mentioned. “Today was a reflection of that work.”

Pruitt pitched two scoreless innings as Oakland’s opener. Ángel Felipe adopted Tarnok and retired 4 batters earlier than Kirby Snead set down two. Trevor May allowed a pair of two-out singles within the ninth after which obtained Josh Smith to line out to shortstop for his twelfth save.

Ruiz, the A’s speedy outfielder who leads the American League in steals, singled main off the third in opposition to Jordan Montgomery. Ruiz shortly stole second after which swiped third on the subsequent pitch earlier than scoring on Jonah Bride’s sacrifice fly for a 1-0 lead.

Ruiz had studied movies of Montgomery earlier than the sport and observed one thing he thought might assist, though he wouldn’t reveal precisely what he noticed.

“I saw it before the game, studied it and when I saw it I just took it,” Ruiz mentioned by means of a translator. “I wasn’t expecting to try to go for third, but once it was there I just went for it.”

Gelof, one other of the A’s promising rookies, made it 2-0 with a solo homer main off the sixth. It was Gelof’s fifth house run in his final 11 video games and marked his sixth in 22 profession video games, making him the quickest participant in franchise historical past to succeed in that mark.

“It’s not something I focus on, but it’s something that’s pretty cool, especially if you’re driving in runs and helping the team win,” Gelof mentioned. “When you hit the ball hard, good things happen.”

Josh Smith doubled within the third and Travis Jankowski had an infield single within the sixth to account for 2 of the Rangers’ 4 hits.

Montgomery (7-10) allowed seven hits and two runs in six innings in his second begin with the Rangers since being acquired in a commerce from the Cardinals on July 30.

GOING ALL OUT

Jankowski made a spectacular diving catch in proper area to rob Aledmys Díaz of a success within the fourth inning.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Rangers: 3B Josh Jung had profitable surgical procedure on Wednesday to restore a fracture of his left thumb. Hand specialist Dr. Don Sheridan carried out the surgical procedure in Arizona and used a plate and screws to stabilize the fracture. … C Jonah Heim (left wrist tendon pressure) is anticipated to face stay pitching this weekend when the workforce performs in San Francisco. … RHP Nathan Eovaldi (forearm pressure) did some some gentle throwing off the mound earlier than the sport. His standing stays unsure.

UP NEXT

Rangers: RHP Jon Gray (7-5, 3.72) goes on Friday in San Francisco in opposition to Giants, who haven’t named a starter. Bochy received three World Series whereas managing the Giants.