Jake Burger's Two Homers and Nathan Eovaldi's Shutout Innings Bury the A's in Rangers Blowout

The Texas Rangers just put on a clinic against Oakland, and it started with Jake Burger doing what he does best: hitting the ball hard and far. Burger went deep twice and drove in four runs, while Nathan Eovaldi was absolutely untouchable on the mound, pitching seven shutout innings to lead the Rangers to an 8-1 demolition of the Athletics on Monday night at West Sacramento, California.

This wasn't even close. The Rangers' offense came alive early and kept the foot on the gas, with Josh Smith and Josh Jung each driving in two runs during a four-run eighth inning that completely blew the game open. Joc Pederson chipped in three hits for Texas, who racked up 11 total. The Rangers are now riding a two-game win streak and have won five of their last seven, which is the kind of form you want to see early in the season.

Eovaldi's Dominant Performance Sets the Tone

At 36 years old, Eovaldi proved he still has plenty left in the tank. He allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out seven, and get this: he threw only 84 pitches to get through seven frames. The numbers speak for themselves. His ERA dropped from 7.98 down to 5.40, and his record improved to 2-2. When your veteran starter is that efficient and that dominant, everything else falls into place.

Burger Owns Severino, Rangers Strike Early

Jake Burger made Luis Severino pay for every mistake. After Severino walked both Evan Carter and Corey Seager in the first inning, Burger stepped up and ripped a 1-1 sinker over the fence in left-center for a three-run blast. Not done yet, Burger led off the third inning and went the opposite way with another 1-1 sinker, this time sending it over the right-field fence. That's his fourth career homer off Severino and the eighth two-homer game of his career.

Severino's struggles at Sutter Health Park continue to haunt him. He is now 2-10 with a 6.01 ERA in 16 starts at the facility after allowing four runs and six hits over six innings on Monday. He struck out seven but walked three, a sign he couldn't find his control when it mattered most.

The Eighth Inning Blowout

The Rangers got some help from a little fortune during that killer eighth inning. Seager led off with a ground-rule double, and after one out, Pederson hit a bouncer up the middle that should have been routine for Athletics shortstop Jack Wilson. But second base umpire Edwin Jimenez got in the way, and the ball hit him, giving Pederson an infield hit with Seager moving to third. After Kyle Higashioka walked to load the bases against Jack Perkins, Smith delivered a two-run single and Jung followed with a two-run double to make it 8-0.

Lawrence Butler homered in the eighth for Oakland, finishing the A's only run of the night. It wasn't enough to stop the Rangers' freight train. Texas opens the four-game series with a dominant performance, and this team is playing the kind of baseball you need to see in April.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.