The Athletics defeated the Rangers 2-1 in Arlington, with Carlos Cortes hitting a two-run triple in the first inning. Despite injuries and a poor performance with runners in scoring position, the A's secured the win.
Key points
Athletics won 2-1 against Rangers in Arlington
Carlos Cortes hit a two-run triple in the first inning
J.T. Ginn left the game with right arm soreness
Athletics struggled with runners in scoring position
AthleticsRangers
Apr 26, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Athletics left fielder Carlos Cortes (26) hits a two-run triple during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Apr 26, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Athletics left fielder Carlos Cortes (26) hits a two-run triple during the first inning against the Texas Rangers at Globe Life Field. Mandatory Credit: Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images | Raymond Carlin III-Imagn Images
Last time the Athletics played the Texas Rangers, the teams split a four-game series in Sacramento. This time, the A’s emerged victorious in a best-of-three battle in Arlington. The two runs they scored in the first inning proved sufficient to win a game in which they overcame an injury to their starter and a 1-for-13 performance with runners in scoring position.
Facing Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker, the A’s offense got going early. With two outs in the first inning, Rocker walked A’s left fielder Tyler Soderstrom and designated hitter Brent Rooker. Hot-hitting right fielder Carlos Cortes stepped up to the plate and promptly smoked his first triple of the season over the head of the Rangers center fielder , scoring those two runners to give his team an immediate 2-0 lead. That would be the first of three hits in this game for Cortes, who capped off an incredible week at the plate.
Athletics starting pitcher J.T. Ginn only needed to throw six pitches in a scoreless, shutdown first inning. After giving up a leadoff single, he got to ground into a double play before retiring the dangerous on a line out snagged nicely by first baseman .
In the second inning, A’s center-fielder came close to hitting a two-run home run. However, it went just foul near the foul pole and he ended up lining into an unlucky double play. Rangers third baseman , who hit the go-ahead home run last night, led off the home half of that inning with a double. Ginn escaped the jam unscathed, striking out ’ catcher to strand Jung and another runner on base.
The next inning, the A’s somehow went scoreless despite the final three batters smoking the ball. Soderstrom crushed a two-out double to the right-center gap, but was left stranded when third baseman Jung made a nice play to field Rooker’s hard-hit grounder and then threw him out.
With Ginn through three scoreless, the A’s sought to give him more of a cushion. Cortes and shortstop led off the fourth with back-to-back singles. Rocker got out of the jam by retiring the next three A’s hitters. He got some help from his first baseman , who made a diving stop to rob Butler of a hit.
With one out in the fourth inning, Ginn left the game with right arm soreness, abruptly ending his outing and forcing the A’s to turn to their bullpen earlier than expected. Reliever came out of the bullpen on short notice and got the final two outs of that inning.
The Athletics wasted another scoring opportunity in the fifth. Catcher was left at second base after hitting a double down the left field line. Despite all of the baserunners he allowed, Rocker only gave up those two first-inning runs over six innings of work.
The team was planning to skip left-hander ’s next turn in the rotation as right-hander is scheduled to start the first game of the home stand against the . So, in the wake of Ginn’s injury, Lopez entered this game out of the A’s bullpen in the fifth inning.
Making his first relief appearance of the season, Lopez pitched a scoreless first inning. The sixth inning did not go as well. Jung hit a lead-off double and then Lopez fielded Carter’s bunt, but threw wildly to first, allowing Carter to reach safely and Jung to score the Rangers first run.
Right-handed reliever replaced the rattled Lopez and came up huge! He pulled a Houdini to escape a bases loaded, no outs jam, striking out two-straight Rangers before getting right fielder to fly out to end the inning.
Seeking insurance runs, the A’s got a two-out rally going against Rangers left-handed reliever in the seventh on back-t0-back singles by Kurtz and Langeliers. Unfortunately, Soderstrom flew out to end the inning and stop another scoring opportunity.
Following scoreless innings from and to maintain the A’s advantage, the A’s loaded the bases in the ninth looking to extend their lead. In that inning, Kurtz was intentionally walked, overtaking Rickey Henderson for the most consecutive games drawing a walk in franchise history. Alas, Rooker struck out on three pitches to send it to the bottom of the ninth with the Athletics still clinging to their one-run lead.
Perkins finished off the Rangers in the ninth, setting them down in order to complete his second two-inning save of the road trip and lock up the series win for the first-place Athletics.
As a result of their win, the team gets to enjoy a happy flight home and an off day tomorrow before beginning a new series against the Royals. On Tuesday, Civale will look to pitch better than he did in his first Sacramento start during the A’s previous home stand. He will be opposed by left-hander , who is 2-1 with a 4.08 ERA through his first five starts this season.
Q&A
What was the final score of the Athletics vs. Rangers game on April 26, 2026?
The final score was Athletics 2, Rangers 1.
Who hit the two-run triple for the Athletics against the Rangers?
Carlos Cortes hit the two-run triple for the Athletics.
What injury did Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn suffer during the game?
J.T. Ginn left the game due to right arm soreness.
How did the Athletics perform with runners in scoring position during the game?
The Athletics went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position.
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