The Texas Rangers will look for more production from their outfield and designated hitters when they go for a second consecutive win over the host Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.
The Rangers rallied for a 4-2 win in the series opener. Corey Seager hit a go-ahead, three-run home run in the eighth inning off Oakland setup man Lucas Erceg.
Texas was playing just hours after learning that left fielder/DH Wyatt Langford was heading to the injured list with a strained right hamstring. The injury occurred Saturday against the Kansas City Royals.
Langford’s spot on the roster was taken by infielder Jonathan Ornelas, who was promoted from Triple-A Round Rock.
In Langford’s absences the past two days, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy made some lineup adjustments. Evan Carter played left field and Seager was the designated hitter on Sunday in a 3-2, 10-inning win at Kansas City. On Monday, Ezequiel Duran was in left and Jonah Heim was at DH. The quartet combined to go 2-for-14.
“No team goes through a healthy season,” Texas outfielder Travis Jankowski noted. “We are going to be the next-man-up. We did it last year, and we’re going to do it this year.”
While the Rangers await Nathan Eovaldi’s return from a groin injury, Bochy said he was leaning toward starting right-hander Jose Urena (0-2, 4.35 ERA) on Tuesday. The 32-year-old veteran would be making his first start of the season.
Urena last pitched in a Friday loss to the Royals, allowing two runs on two hits and one walk in two-thirds of an inning.
He threw the final two innings of a 1-0 home loss to the A’s on April 11, allowing one hit and no runs. Urena is 2-1 against Oakland in his career with a 4.91 ERA in five games, including three starts.
The A’s are looking to bounce back after blowing a late lead in the series opener. Oakland manager Mark Kotsay gave Seager all the credit for his clutch hit.
“That’s why he makes $400 million,” Kotsay said. “Small blip for Erceg. We have nothing but confidence in him; he’s had nothing but success this season. We’ll turn the page on this game and look at it (as) a really good player putting a good swing on a 3-2 changeup that was a pretty good pitch.”
The A’s, who are hoping to avoid a third straight loss after a six-game winning streak, will send Ross Stripling (1-5, 4.24) to the mound on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old right-hander ended a personal 10-decision losing streak dating to the start of the 2023 season by throwing six shutout innings in a 4-0 home win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
Stripling allowed six runs on 11 hits and three walks in six innings in a 6-2 loss at Texas on April 10. He is 0-2 with a 5.87 ERA in six career outings, including three starts, against the Rangers.
