Athletics Squeak Past Rangers

Photo by Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

April 26, 2026

Athletics 2, Rangers 1

ARLINGTON, Texas (Apr 26) — Despite several scoring opportunities, the Texas Rangers fell short, 2–1, in their series finale against the Athletics Sunday afternoon. A two-run triple by Carlos Cortes in the first inning helped seal the series victory for the Athletics. Starting Monday, the Rangers host the New York Yankees for three to close out their nine-game homestand. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm Central at Globe Life Field. Yankees lefty Max Fried (3–1, 2.40 ERA) will go up against Rangers righty Jack Leiter (1–1, 4.97 ERA) in the series opener.

The Athletics, meanwhile, will begin a six-game homestand starting with three against the Kansas City Royals. That series will get underway Tuesday evening, with first pitch scheduled for 6:40 pm Pacific at Sutter Health Park. Left-hander Kris Bubic (2–1, 4.08 ERA) will toe the slab for the Royals, and the Athletics have yet to name their starting pitcher as of press time.

Big Triple for Cortes

The Athletics struck early in the top of the first against righty Kumar Rocker. Tyler Soderstrom and Brent Rooker — in his first game back from injury — reached on back-to-back two out walks. That brought up Cortes, who hit a triple that eluded the outstretched glove of Evan Carter in center. Soderstrom and Rooker both scored on the play.

The Rangers cut the lead in half in the bottom of the sixth against reliever Jacob Lopez. Josh Jung led off with a double to left. Carter followed with a sacrifice bunt that rolled back to Lopez to the right of the pitchers mound. After picking up the ball, Lopez was slapped with an E1 due to an offline throw to Athletics first baseman Nick Kurtz. This allowed Jung to score from second. Lopez walked Jake Burger and was then lifted for reliever Justin Sterner by Athletics manager Mark Kotsay.

What Went Right for the Athletics

Hitting a triple in the major leagues is one of the hardest things to do. Hitting one with a runner or two on base is even harder. Cortes came through in the first inning with his big hit that turned into one of the deciding factors for the Athletics on Sunday. Their pitching staff also did a nice job of holding the Rangers to one run on the afternoon.

What Went Wrong for the Athletics

The Athletics walked away with the victory, but it wasn’t a pretty picture. As a team they went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position. They had plenty more chances to score in this contest but couldn’t create a spark with many of their baserunners.

The throwing error by Lopez in the bottom of the sixth was costly as well.

Second Quality Start for Rocker

Rangers right-hander Kumar Rocker made his fifth start of the season and was dealt his second loss. He is now 1–2 with a 3.38 ERA despite notching a quality start. His line was 6 IP, 6 H, 2 R-ER, 2 BB, 3 K, 84 pitches/54 strikes. Rocker posted his second quality start of the season, marking the first time in his career to post a quality start in back-to-back outings. Sunday was also the fifth quality start of his career.

He was forced to use 23 pitches in the first inning but spent a total of 17 pitches over the next two stanzas. Rocker did not craft a 1-2-3 frame until the sixth, when he retired the side in order on seven pitches. Tyler Alexander took over on the mound in the seventh. Sunday was Rocker’s 10th career home start, as he’s posted a 2.53 ERA (15 ER in 53 1/3 IP) in those outings. It marks the lowest ERA over a Rangers pitcher’s first 10 career home starts in club history, besting Alexi Ogando’s 2.54 mark in 2011.

Short Afternoon for Ginn

Athletics starter J.T. Ginn left the game with right arm soreness in the fourth after tossing 3 1/3 scoreless innings in his fourth start of the year and second against the Rangers. The right-hander threw 46 pitches and allowed leadoff hits to open the first three innings but prevented them all from scoring.

Sterner earned his first win of the season after giving up one hit and striking out two in the bottom of the sixth. His record now sits at 1–2 with an ERA of 3.07.

The rare two-inning save went to righty Jack Perkins. He allowed one hit and struck out three.

Schumaker’s Postgame Comments

After the game, Rangers manager Skip Schumaker discussed the Rangers’ lack of offense on Sunday. “We didn’t put the ball in play,” he said. “I think we had six leadoff guys on and nine or ten runners left on base without scoring a run, so we had traffic all day long, bases loaded no outs. We had a tough time putting the ball in play. (Kumar) Rocker was great and we just couldn’t get him any support.”