Wyatt Langford hit a go-ahead two-run homer as part of a 3-for-4 outing to lead the Texas Rangers to a 5-3 victory over the Athletics on Saturday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Corey Seager had two hits and one RBI and MacKenzie Gore ended a four-start winless stretch for Texas, which halted a four-game losing streak. Jacob Latz recorded a two-inning save as the Rangers moved back into third and final wild-card spot in the tight American League race.
Henry Bolte went 3-for-4 with a three-run homer for the Athletics, who lost for the 16th time in the past 20 contests. Alika Williams had two hits for the A’s, who have dropped nine of their last 10 home games.
Gore (7-9) gave up three runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two before the bullpen followed with 3 1/3 hitless innings.
Chase Silseth recorded the final out of the sixth and Jakob Junis pitched a perfect seventh for Texas. Latz walked a batter in the eighth and tossed a flawless ninth in a 36-pitch effort to record his 24th save and his seventh of two innings.
The Rangers trailed by three before Jake Burger doubled to start the fifth and later scored on Nicky Lopez’s one-out groundball single to center.
In the sixth, Brandon Nimmo led off with a double and scored on Seager’s grounder single to center. Langford followed by sending the first pitch he saw from J.T. Ginn 421 feet to left-center to give Texas a 4-3 lead.
The Rangers added on in the ninth as Evan Carter hit a one-out double to center and Burger walked against Scott Blewett before pinch hitter Jarred Kelenic stroked an RBI single to center.
Ginn (8-7) allowed four runs and eight hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked none.
Gore retired the first two batters in the second before allowing singles to Brian Serven and Williams.
Bolte came up and ripped a full-count curveball down the left-field line. The ball was just inches above the wall when it hit the left side of the foul pole and ricocheted into foul territory.
The umpiring crew ruled the ball foul in disbelief to the Athletics. But the play was reviewed and Bolte was awarded with his three-run blast.