A’s out-hit Rangers in 6-5 victory

🚨 THE A'S HAVE SCORED IN THE FIRST INNING 🚨 pic.twitter.com/2yAmqtU2tF

— Athletics on NBCS (@NBCSAthletics) April 16, 2026 Off the bat, it kind’ve looked like Ezequiel Durán had the play but he’d lose it on the jump at the warning track. A quick recovery from the Rangers’ left fielder prevented Soderstrom from advancing any further than second base. The A’s would strand him there to end the first inning. In the top of the second, A’s starter J.T. Ginn was able to escape a little drama. A trio of walks loaded the bases but no damage was done, thanks to Joc Pederson striking out and Danny Jensen hitting into a double play. Ginn doesn’t have the greatest track record against Texas. Yes, he secured the last ever win in Oakland against them back in 2024, but last season, in just around twenty innings against the Rangers, he offered up six home runs in around twenty innings! He’d serve up another to shortstop Corey Seager in the third inning. After the A’s added a little insurance on a Denzel Clarke RBI single, Seager and the Rangers tied it right back up on a no doubter to deep right field. From there, we’d find ourselves in a bit of a pitcher’s duel. Rangers starter Kumar Rocker provided a wipeout slider that had A’s batters struggling to resist, while the signature J.T. Ginn sinker kept the Rangers on the ground floor. After a slight lull, Shea Langeliers would get ahold of one, ripping it down the third base line for a lead off double in the bottom of the fifth. Now this is where you could feel the A’s getting to Rocker. They had him on the ropes. A mound visit was called on Rocker’s behalf, after his walk to Tyler Soderstrom. He’d get Jacob Wilson to line out to Ezequiel Durán but that would be it for the big right-hander. His day would be over after 4.2 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 ER, 4 BB, and 6Ks on 97 pitches. Lefty Jalen Beeks would be brought in to replace him. Despite walking Jeff McNeil to load the bases, he’d get out of the jam by striking out Max Muncy to end the inning. What’s frustrating about THIS particular Muncy strikeout is that not only were the bases juiced, but he had a 3-1 count on Beeks when he decided to go hunting for a fastball up and out of the zone. That Max Muncy AB was the most brutal AB of the season so far. That was brutal to watch unfold if I’m being honest.

— Athletics Rants (@AthleticsRants) April 16, 2026 Ginn’s day would wrap up not too far behind Rocker’s. He’d give the ball to Hogan Harris after a one out single by Wyatt Langford. No damage done by the Rangers though as Harris was able to shut down Monday’s player of the game in Jake Burger. Now we have to talk about Nick Kurtz. In the bottom of the 6th, Kurtz came up to the plate with Lawrence Butler on second base. What did he do in this at-bat? Strikeout on a fastball right down the middle. His third of the game up to this point and quite frankly, a telling K. I know it’s early and we don’t want to have the conversation yet, but can we at least admit that Kurtz has not been the player we’ve needed him to be? His hitting woes actually run through the spring, where in 21 games he hit only .201 with 16Ks. In fact, if you go back to his performance at the end of last season, you’ll find that his September numbers took a noticeable dip. His slash in the final month was actually his worst. Even weaker than the April/May campaign that he was criticized for having. So what do we make of Kurtz’s struggles? If we find ourselves in a similar situation by June, could a trip to AAA a la Lawrence Butler in 2024 be appropriate? While you think on that, watch this… SHEA LANGELIERS HITS A 467-FOOT MOONSHOT 😱