Texas totals one hit, falls to Sears, A’s
J.P. Sears navigated through trouble and carried a no-hit bid into the seventh inning Thursday in Oakland’s game against the World Series champion Rangers in Arlington, Texas.
Sears faced nine batters with runners on base after issuing leadoff walks in the first, second and fifth innings. But the 28-year-old left-hander — and the Athletics — emerged unscathed in a 1-0, one-hit win, a possible sign that these A’s are different from those who have piled up losses in record fashion in recent seasons.
“We’re just trying to win the day every day,” said Sears, who exited after allowing a one-out single to left by Adolis Garcia. “When you’re kind of counted out, it’s pretty easy to just kind of put your head down and work hard and just do your job.”
Sears, the lone starter back from the A’s 2023 opening day rotation, struck out five on Thursday — including 2023 World Series MVP Corey Seager three times. Mason Miller struck out two in a perfect ninth for his second save.
Seth Brown homered in the second off Jon Gray (0-1), who struck out nine over five innings in his longest start this season.
The A’s (5-8) closed a 4-2 road trip to Detroit and Texas, taking two of three from last season’s MLB champs. Last season, Oakland won one road trip the entire season on the way to a franchiseworst 50-112 record. The 2022 A’s (60-102) didn’t win a single road trip.
■ Royals 13, Astros 3: At Kansas City, Mo., Bobby Witt Jr. went 4-for5 with two homers and five RBIS as Kansas City capped a three-game sweep and a 7-0 homestand. Maikel Garcia (two singles), Witt (a single and a homer) and Vinnie Pasquantino (two singles) each had two hits and two RBIS in the Royals’ nine-run first off Hunter Brown (0-2), who recorded two outs while becoming the majors’ first pitcher to allow 11 hits in less than one inning. Brady Singer (2-0) held Houston to one run in five innings.
■ Mets 16, Braves 4: At Atlanta, D.J. Stewart hit a two-run homer in New York’s four-run third, and pinch hitter Tyrone Taylor had a grand slam in the ninth for the Mets, who set season highs in runs and hits (16). Taylor’s homer came off infielder Luis Guillorme, who was playing in his first game for Atlanta after spending his first six major league seasons with the Mets.
■ Orioles 9, Red Sox 4: At Boston, Colton Cowser went 3-for-5 with a double and his first two major league homers, including a three-run shot in Baltimore’s six-run 10th, as the Orioles capped a three-game sweep. Cowser totaled 10 RBIS in the series. Gunnar Henderson opened the 10th with a two-run homer.
■ Phillies 5, Pirates 1: At Philadelphia, Las Vegas native Bryson Stott and Brandon Marsh each hit a two-run homer in the seventh to back Ranger Suarez (2-0), who struck out eight in six shutout innings. Pittsburgh rookie Jared Jones (1-2) allowed three runs while striking out eight in6 ⅓ innings.
■ Twins at Tigers, ppd., rain: The game was rescheduled as part of a traditional doubleheader Saturday.
■ Brewers at Reds, ppd., rain: The game was rescheduled as part of a split doubleheader Aug. 30.
PCL
■ Bees 7, Aviators 3: At Las Vegas Ballpark, Andy Blake went 3-for-4 with a two-run single in Salt Lake’s five-run fifth and a two-run homer in the seventh as the Bees (6-6) won their fourth straight. Esteury Ruiz went 3-for-4 with a solo home run for the Aviators (2-9), who were outhit 10-8.