Game 56: Oakland A's Comeback Comes Up Short in 6-3 Loss to Rangers

After falling behind 5-0, the A's rallied but could not get a timely hit down the stretch and fell 6-3 to the Texas Rangers in game two of their four game series. Travis Blackley struggled and took the loss, which dropped the A's to 24-32 on the season. Blackley lasted only 4 2/3 innings, allowing five runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts. 

The A's bullpen gave them a chance to get back into the game with 4 1/3 innings of scoreless relief. The offense broke through in the fifth when, after a Kurt Suzuki double, Collin Cowgill hit his first home run as a member of the A's. The two-run shot cut the game to 5-2. In the sixth, Yoenis Cespedes took a hanging breaking ball into the left field bleachers to make it 5-3.

They had a good chance in the seventh when Jemile Weeks walked and Cespedes singled back up the middle. After a wild pitch, Brandon Inge worked the count before striking out on a slider from Alexi Ogando, and the threat was over. Texas added an insurance run in the ninth inning, and only a tremendous catch by Cespedes saved another run.

Good: Yoenis Cespedes. Two good at-bats led to his sixth home run and an inning-extending single back up the middle in the seventh inning. He continues to show flashes of the player he can be. The key going forward will be some consistency, which can only be helped by his ability to remain healthy. 

Bad: Travis Blackley. Awful tough to follow up Jarrod Parker's dominant outing Monday night. And the Rangers were much more prepared, but they were helped by some of the location issues Blackley had. 

Ugly: Adam Rosales. I had to pick someone here, and Rosales just did not look good at the plate tonight. He struck out and was not particularly productive with runners in scoring position. And that might be the bigger underlying issue for the entire team.

The A's will try to win their second game of the set tomorrow, as Bartolo Colón looks to bounce back against Colby Lewis. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.