04/26/26 04:51:00
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04/26 16:46 CDT Carlos Cortes triple and Justin Sterner's clutch pitching lift
Athletics to 2-1 win over Rangers
Carlos Cortes triple and Justin Sterner's clutch pitching lift Athletics to 2-1
win over Rangers
By SCHUYLER DIXON
AP Sports Writer
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) --- Carlos Cortes had a two-run triple in the first
inning, reliever Justin Sterner escaped a bases-loaded, no-out jam to preserve
a one-run lead in the sixth and the Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 2-1 in the
rubber game of their series Sunday.
Cortes' 106.3 mph liner off the glove of Evan Carter on the warning track in
center field scored Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker, who drew consecutive
two-out walks off Kumar Rocker.
Athletics starter J.T. Ginn exited due to right arm soreness with one out in
the fourth and a 2-0 lead. Rooker was back in the lineup in the cleanup spot as
the designated hitter after missing 14 games with a right oblique strain. The
two-time All-Star went 0 for 4.
Cortes finished with three hits.
Jacob Lopez was the second reliever after Ginn and gave up the first Texas run
in the sixth. Josh Jung doubled and scored when Lopez's throw got past first
baseman Nick Kurtz on Evan Carter's half-swing sacrifice bunt.
The left-hander then walked Jake Burger and was replaced by Sterner, who gave
up a bunt single to Josh Smith to load the bases.
Sterner (1-2) struck out Danny Jansen and Sam Haggerty before leadoff man
Brandon Nimmo flied out to center, drawing several fist pumps from the
right-hander as he walked to the dugout.
Jack Perkins, the sixth pitcher for the Athletics, struck out one in a perfect
ninth for his second save in two chances.
Rocker (1-2) gave up six hits and two runs with three strikeouts in six innings.
Up next
The Athletics have yet to announce their starter opposite Kansas City's Kris
Bubic (2-1, 4.08 ERA) in the opener of a three-game series at home Tuesday.
Texas' Jack Leiter (1-1, 4.97) is scheduled to take the mound Monday at home
against Max Fried (3-1, 2.40) to kickoff a three-game series with the Yankees.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
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