Rangers Storm Back Late to Beat A's, Now Head to Seattle Where Mariners Are Gasping at 1-8 on the Road

The Texas Rangers pulled off the kind of comeback that changes a clubhouse mood for an entire road trip. Down after the eighth inning on Thursday, they exploded for four runs in the ninth to beat the Athletics 9-6 in West Sacramento, California, and now they're rolling into Seattle for a three-game series against the Mariners. This is exactly the kind of momentum you want when you're about to face a division rival who is drowning.

The Ninth Inning That Saved the Flight

The Rangers looked done for. Nick Kurtz's wind-aided double with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth fell in front of left fielder Wyatt Langford, clearing the bases and giving the A's a one-run lead. But Texas didn't pack it in. Joc Pederson's RBI single and Ezequiel Duran's two-run single were the daggers that flipped the script.

Josh Jung was the star, going 3-for-5 with a double, homer and two RBIs. He credited Langford's between-innings venting, when the Rangers left fielder took out his frustration by lobbing water jugs around the visiting dugout. "He kind of did it for all of us, probably," Jung said. "We were frustrated, but then we're just laughing."

Rangers manager Skip Schumaker summed up what that ninth inning meant. "I just think that they played nine innings no matter what. They play hard, and it doesn't matter what the score is. There's always a fighting chance. It was pretty demoralizing, how that was going. It could have been a demoralizing flight, quite honestly. That's not easy to do, so this is a much happier flight, for sure."

Meanwhile, Seattle Is Spiraling

The Mariners got swept in San Diego, losing 5-2 Thursday to drop to 1-8 on the road. They are tied with Houston for last place in the AL West. This comes after getting swept in a three-game series by these same Rangers last week in Texas, getting outscored 8-3.

The real problem? Cal Raleigh, Julio Rodriguez, and Josh Naylor are dead at the plate. The trio has combined for a .162 batting average with five home runs and 24 RBIs. Rodriguez knows the math doesn't add up. "We just need to continue to set the table," he said. "Somebody's gonna eat at some point."

Friday's Showdown: DeGrom vs. Gilbert

The series opener pits Rangers ace Jacob deGrom against Mariners right-hander Logan Gilbert. DeGrom is 1-0 with a 2.87 ERA. He got his first win Sunday at the Dodgers, allowing one run on four hits over six innings with three walks and nine strikeouts in a 5-2 decision. On April 6 against Seattle, he got a no-decision in a 2-1 Rangers win, allowing just one hit over five innings, a solo homer by Raleigh. In eight career starts against the Mariners, deGrom is 2-2 with a 3.26 ERA.

Gilbert is 1-2 with a 4.18 ERA this season. He's 5-3 with a 2.90 ERA in 17 career starts against Texas. He took the loss in that April 6 matchup despite allowing just two runs in six innings. But Gilbert bounced back Sunday with a 6-1 win over Houston, allowing one run on four hits over seven innings with one walk and seven strikeouts.

This is exactly the matchup Seattle doesn't need right now. A Rangers team riding a ninth-inning high against a Mariners offense that can't hit. T-Mobile Park better bring the noise on Friday night.

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