ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Stephen Vogt’s routine grounder with two outs in the ninth inning glanced off Texas shortstop Corey Seager’s glove, scoring the go-ahead run as the Oakland Athletics beat the Rangers 8-7 on Wednesday night.
The A’s trailed 7-6 entering the ninth. Pinch-hitter Sheldon Neuse led off with a single and Vimael Machin tied it with a two-out double.
Pinch-hitter Vogt then pulled a grounder and Seager, shifted to the right side of the diamond, misplayed it for an error that let Machin score.
“For him to come through for us,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay paused and said, “I believe in Stephen Vogt.”
Said Vogt, the 10-year veteran catcher: “Machin got the big knock to keep us alive and tie the game up and keep us in scoring position. I was trying to take the ball to left-center but just willed it over there between Seager and (Marcus) Semien. Just got it done, doesn’t really matter how.”
The A’s are 2-71 when trailing after seven innings.
Tyler Cyr (1-0) got five outs for his first big league win. Jose Leclerc (0-3) took the loss.
Domingo Acevedo earned his first save. With a runner on second base and two out, Acevedo entered to cool off the Rangers’ Mark Mathias by striking him out. Mathias had hit tying and walk-off homers on Tuesday.
“Obviously, you get flashbacks from (Tuesday) night and a walk-off homer,” A’s manager Mark Kotsay said. He brought in Acevedo to pitch to Mathias after Sam Moll got the first two outs.
“Sam wanted to finish that game,” Kotsay said, “but I thought we had a good match-up with Acevedo in there.”
Vogt was behind the plate for the game-ending strikeout of Mathias. “I’m sure he’ll cherish (the home runs) for the rest of his life.”
In Wednesday’s second inning, Mathias homered in…