Photo Courtesy: Darryl Briggs
The Texas Rangers earned their first win of the 2015 season with a hard-fought victory over their AL West rivals, the Oakland Athletics. After a humiliating 8-0 loss on opening day, the Rangers bounced back, and evened up the opening series with a 3-1 win. The win is the first for new Texas Rangers manager Jeff Banister.
Colby Lewis was the starting pitcher and had a good performance. Lewis pitched six innings allowing only three hits, one run, and recording four strikeouts. First baseman, Prince Fielder had a good game also, finishing with two hits, each allowing the Rangers to score runs. Fielder, who missed was placed on injured reserve in the middle of the 2014 season after undergoing neck surgery said that he feels great and he has strength in both of his arms. Fielder looked a lot better than he did Monday night when he went 0 for 4.
The first two innings were quiet as neither team were able to score, but at the top of the third inning, Prince Fielder singled out to center, allowing Rougned Odor to score the Rangers’ first run of 2015.
The Rangers succeeded in not allowing Oakland to respond at the bottom of third. Both teams failed to score during the fourth inning.
During the fifth inning, the Rangers increased their lead to 3-0 after Fielder singled to right, allowing the Rangers to score two runs taking advantage of an error by Athletics outfielder, Craig Gentry.
When the Athletics scored their first run of the night at the bottom of the sixth, things began to get serious for the Rangers. Keone Kela stepped into the mound for the Rangers after Colby Lewis was finished for the night. After Athletics Center fielder Sam Fuld tripled, it looked like Oakland would spark a comeback. However, the Rangers managed to allow only one run, and stay in the lead. But it was at the bottom of the seventh inning that Ranger fans were holding their breath. All bases were loaded for Oakland with only one out, but after a miraculous double play by Elvis Andrus, the Rangers prevailed.
After Oakland was able to shut-out the Rangers at the top of the eighth and ninth inning, it was up to Neftali Feliz to seal the game and give the Texas Rangers the win. And Feliz sealed it up in style by sealing the game with a strike-out.
Game 3 of the series is tonight at 9:05 central time. Ross Detwiler will be on the mound for the Texas Rangers as they look for their second win of the season.
