ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Pinch-hitter Scott Sizemore’s grand slam in the sixth inning helped the Oakland Athletics end a nine-game skid against Texas with an 8-7 victory over the AL West-leading Rangers on Saturday.
With the score tied at 3, Rangers starter Alexi Ogando (12-8) hit Josh Willingham with a pitch leading off the sixth, and David DeJesus followed with a single. Texas manager Ron Washington replaced Ogando with left-hander Mike Gonzalez.
Ryan Sweeney attempted to bunt, and Gonzalez made a nice play to get a force at third. After Brandon Allen was retired on a foul popup, Gonzalez walked Kurt Suzuki to load the bases, and Washington again went to his bullpen and brought in Yoshinori Tateyama.
Sizemore was sent in by manager Bob Melvin to hit for Eric Sogard, and the pinch-hitter ripped Tateyama’s 1-0 pitch into the left field seats for his first career grand slam and a 7-3 lead.
