OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Athletics pitcher Frankie Montas didn’t have much success trying to pump his fastball past Texas’ hitters early and spent most of the game working through traffic.
Montas calmed down enough to work out of a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the fourth, just before Oakland broke out for its biggest inning of the season.
Matt Chapman homered and walked three times, Marcus Semien had a two-run double as part of a six-run fourth inning and the A’s beat the Rangers 11-5 on Tuesday night.
“They were knocking on the door there and to slam them shut was big,” said Stephen Piscotty, who matched his career high with four hits and scored three times. “Then the offense was able to take over.”
Montas (4-1) struck out six and pitched into the sixth inning in an uneven start to win his third straight and team-leading fourth overall. The A’s right-hander allowed three runs on nine hits and overcame his own error to work out of the situation in the fourth after allowing a walk and infield single to begin the inning.
Montas also got out of jams in the first and second, stranding runners in scoring position each time.
“In a lot of ways I think this was the best game of the year for him,” manager Bob Melvin said. “When he’s rolling it’s easy for him. But in the past when he’s had some trouble, he’s had a little trouble shutting it down. To get out of the fourth like that and pitching around traffic the whole time, this would probably be as good for him as any game that he’s had.”
Montas said he was rushing his pitches early.
“The way the game started, I was way too quick,” Montas said. “I usually don’t work like that. I started a little bit too hard and got myself in trouble. After that second inning I got back to myself.”
Slugger Khris Davis broke out of a mini slump with an RBI single and Ramon Laureano drove in two runs for the A’s. Every Oakland starter had at least one hit on a warm night when both teams hit the ball hard most of the game.
Danny Santana homered and had three hits for Texas. The Rangers have lost two straight after winning six of seven.
“That fourth inning was tough,” Texas manager Chris Woodward said. “We had a chance to blow the game open and their guy made a couple of good pitches and got out of it.”
Chapman hit his seventh home run of the season off Lance Lynn (2-2) in the first but paused after connecting on the 3-2 pitch, waiting to see if the ball would stay fair as it sailed past the high yellow foul pole. Third base umpire Will Little signaled home run, and after a brief crew chief review, the call stood.
Oakland broke the game open with seven hits in the fourth, including two-run doubles by Semien and Josh Phegley. Laureano and Davis also knocked in runs as the A’s sent 11 to the plate.
Lynn allowed eight runs to match his career high in 3 1/3 innings.
“I was terrible out there,” Lynn said. “Everything they put into play was a hit whether it was hit hard or not.”
CHOO’S STREAK ENDS
Shin-Soo Choo had reached base safely in 10 consecutive games when batting leadoff for the Rangers until going 0 for 5 with three strikeouts.
PISCOTTY’S STREAK CONTINUES
Piscotty has a franchise record 16-game hitting streak against the Rangers and has 14 RBIs in that stretch. “That was surprising, I had no idea,” Piscotty said.
BIG LEAGUE DEBUT
Rangers pitcher Wei-Chieh Huang allowed two runs and retired seven batters in his major league debut after being recalled from Double-A Frisco before the game.
TRAINERS ROOM
Rangers: LHP Drew Smyly was placed on the 10-day injured list because of nerve tightness in his pitching arm. Manager Chris Woodward said he expects Smyly to miss one or two starts.
Athletics: Marco Estrada underwent a radiofrequency ablation procedure in hopes of alleviating pain in the right-hander’s lower back. Estrada went on the injured list April 17 with a lumbar strain. RHP Lou Trivino continues to be unavailable because of a sore thumb he injured playing catch.
UP NEXT
RHP Aaron Brooks (2-2, 5.32) pitches for the A’s in the season finale after allowing 13 runs over 16 innings in his three previous starts. Kyle Dowdy will make his first major league start for the Rangers.
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