A’s slip by Rangers in backside of ninth

Jacob Wilson singled home Zack Gelof from second base with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning Tuesday night and the Oakland Athletics opened their three-day going-away party with a 5-4 victory over the defending champion Texas Rangers.

After closer Mason Miller had worked out of a first-and-third, one-out jam to preserve a 4-4 tie in the top of the inning, Gelof led off the bottom of the ninth with a single off the third Rangers pitcher, Josh Sborz (2-2).

Gelof stole second as Seth Brown was striking out before Wilson drilled Sborz’s next pitch into center field, allowing his teammate to race home and complete the walk-off win on a close play at the plate.

Miller (2-2) was credited with the win.

Oakland led 4-3 before Jonah Heim, who debuted for the A’s during the 2020 season, drew the Rangers even in the top of the eighth with a solo home run — his 13th long ball of the season.

Rangers starter Nathan Eovaldi worked seven innings, allowing four runs (three earned) on just four hits. He walked three and struck out seven.

Two of the runs came in the first inning on consecutive two-out RBI doubles by Shea Langeliers and Tyler Soderstrom.

The A’s (68-89) also enjoyed a two-run lead at 3-1 after Lawrence Butler doubled and scored on JJ Bleday’s infield out in the third. They took their 4-3 lead into the eighth thanks to a second Soderstrom double and Gelof’s sacrifice fly in the sixth.

A’s starter Mitch Spence was pulled after 4 2/3 innings, charged with three runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Heim, who was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, was the last batter Spence faced in the fifth. The right-hander left a 3-3 tie.

A first-inning RBI double by Adolis Garcia and fourth-inning solo homer by Nathaniel Lowe accounted for Texas’ first two runs.

Butler and Langeliers each scored twice for the A’s, who were swept by the New York Yankees in the first half of the six-game homestand that will complete their 57 years in Oakland.

Marcus Semien, another of the Rangers who played previously for the A’s, had two hits for Texas, as did Garcia and Josh Smith. The Rangers (74-83) out-hit the hosts 10-6.

–Field Level Media