SACRAMENTO, California — Texas leaned on a veteran arm and a power surge at the plate to get back in the win column.
Nathan Eovaldi delivered a steady, seven-inning performance while Jake Burger provided the thunder with a pair of home runs, lifting the Texas Rangers to an 8-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night. The win snapped Oakland’s recent surge and gave Texas a much-needed boost.
Eovaldi set the tone early, attacking the strike zone and keeping Athletics hitters off balance throughout his outing. The right-hander worked efficiently into the seventh, limiting hard contact and allowing just one run while racking up key outs in traffic.
Offensively, Burger stole the spotlight.
The Rangers’ slugger launched two long balls, showcasing his power to both sides of the field and breaking the game open. His first homer gave Texas early momentum, while his second added breathing room as the Rangers pulled away in the middle innings.
Texas’ lineup backed the effort with timely hitting, stringing together productive at-bats to build a comfortable lead. The Rangers capitalized on scoring opportunities, turning pressure into runs and never allowing Oakland to regain its footing.
Meanwhile, the Athletics struggled to generate consistent offense against Eovaldi and the Texas bullpen. After pushing across a lone run, Oakland couldn’t sustain rallies, as Texas pitching closed the door late.
The victory not only halted the Athletics’ win streak but also reinforced the Rangers’ ability to pair strong pitching with power hitting — a combination they’ll look to carry into the rest of the series.
