Rangers Lose Series Opener to Athletics

Photo by Sam Hodde/Getty Images

April 28, 2025

Athletics 2, Rangers 1

ARLINGTON, Texas (Apr 28) — The Texas Rangers fought hard, but they fell short as they lost to the Athletics, 2–1, Monday evening. A two-run double by Tyler Soderstrom made all the difference in this contest for the A’s. The Rangers will try to even this four-game set on Tuesday with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Lefty Jacob Lopez (0–0, 0.00 ERA) will take the mound for the Athletics, while right-hander Jacob deGrom (0–1, 3.33 ERA) will get the ball for the Rangers.

Soderstrom Sees Double

The Athletics got into the run column first in the top of the fifth. With Patrick Corbin on the mound for the Rangers, Gio Urshela led off with a double to left. He moved to third when Max Schuemann flied to center.

Two batters later, Corbin issued a walk to Brent Rooker to put runners at the corners. Rooker scored on a double to right by Soderstrom. The second run came on a close play at the plate, which the Rangers unsuccessfully challenged, allowing both runners to score.

The Rangers cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth off Athletics starter JP Sears. Kyle Higashioka got things started with a sharp double to center.

After Wyatt Langford flied to right, Jonah Heim plated Higashioka with a single up the middle.

What Went Right for the Rangers

The Heim RBI single prevented a shutout and brought the Rangers within a run of tying the game. Patrick Corbin also kept them in the game by limiting the Athletics to two runs. Additionally, a 5–3 double play with runners on first and second and one out in the top of the fourth quelled a potential Athletics rally. Another key double play came to end the top of the eighth, when Miguel Andujar lined into a 4–3 line-drive double play, the second out coming when Marcus Semien‘s throw beat a helpless Shea Langeliers back to the first-base bag.

What Went Wrong for the Rangers

The Rangers left seven runners on base, four in scoring position. Perhaps the most frustrating inning for the Rangers was the bottom of the sixth, when they left the bases loaded.

Tough Night for Corbin

Rangers starter Patrick Corbin made his fourth start of the season and was saddled with his first loss after allowing two earned over 4 2/3 innings with a season-high 93 pitches. The rest of his line was 7 H, 1 BB, 5 K, 93 pitches/56 strikes. He now owns a record of 2–1 with an ERA of 3.79. All five of his strikeouts came in the first three innings, as 14 of his 15 punch-outs this season have been recorded within the first three frames. Corbin allowed leadoff hits in each of the five frames he opened.

He was stingy with runners on base. Corbin held the A’s to a 2-for-14 clip with runners aboard and 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position. Corbin has limited opponents to a .130 clip with runners in scoring position this season and .189 with runners aboard, compared to .425 with the bases empty. He faced five of his 21 batters with the bases empty Tuesday, as 74 of his 93 pitches were delivered from the stretch.

Sears’ Rangers Dominance Continues

Athletics starter JP Sears won his fifth straight start against the Rangers, tossing 5 2/3 innings with a season-high seven strikeouts. The rest of his line was 5 H, 1 R-ER, 0 BB, 89 pitches/62 strikes. He is one of two active pitchers to win each of his last five outings vs. the Rangers. Sears trails George Kirby’s current 7–0 run in last his seven starts against the Rangers since August 12, 2022.

Monday marked his third start of 2025 with seven strikeouts. Sears improved to 4–1 during the month of April, becoming the first A’s pitcher to notch four wins in April since Sean Manaea went 4–1 in 2018. Sears is 5–0 with a 2.45 ERA in 5 starts against the Rangers since the start of 2024.

Bochy’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Rangers manager Bruce Bochy discussed Corbin’s start. “He battled well,” Bochy said. “It was just some bad breaks, and of course you had Soderstrom’s double. Our pitching really isn’t the issue. Our guys have been fantastic this past month, and we just need to find ways to get them some runs.”