(Nate Miller)<\/em><\/p>\n ARLINGTON, Texas (Jul 21) \u2014 The Texas Rangers<\/a> took their series opener against the Athletics<\/a>, 7\u20132, Monday night. Josh Jung<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> and Michael Helman<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> went a long way in helping the Rangers’ cause. The Rangers and Athletics will face off again Tuesday night, with the Rangers going for their second straight series win. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 pm Central. Right-hander J.T. Ginn<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> (1\u20132, 4.91 ERA) will take the hill for the Athletics with righty Jacob deGrom<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> (9\u20132, 2.32 ERA) toeing the rubber for the Rangers.<\/p>\n (Nate Miller) <\/em>Both teams played Hot Potato with a giant zero for the first two and a half innings. The Rangers scored first in the bottom of the third off Athletics starter Jacob Lopez<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>. Jung, who was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock prior to Monday’s game, led off with a home run to left-center.<\/p>\n The Athletics knotted it up in the top of the fourth off starter Jack Leiter<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>. Nick Kurtz<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> reached on a one-out double to center. Two batters later, Shea Langeliers<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> drew a walk, bringing up Tyler Soderstrom<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>. He scored Kurtz with a single to right.<\/p>\n The Rangers broke the tie in the bottom of the fifth. With one out, Josh Smith<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> lined a single to center. Jung followed with a free pass. On deck was Cody Freeman<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>, who doubled up the middle to drive in Smith for his first major league hit and RBI. Up next was Helman, who broke things open with his first major-league home run, a three-run blast to left.<\/p>\n The Athletics answered back in the top of the sixth with a leadoff opposite-field home run by Kurtz, his 19th of the season.<\/p>\n The Rangers added two runs in the bottom of the seventh off reliever Elvis Alvarado<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>. Smith got things started with a double to right, his 17th of the year. He advanced to third on a single to center by Jung. On deck was Rowdy Tellez<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>, hitting for Freeman. The Athletics countered this move by bringing in reliever Sean Newcomb<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>, who struck out Tellez looking. Up next was Helman, who plated Smith with a sacrifice bunt back to Newcomb. Moments later, Jung crossed the plate thanks to a single to left by Corey Seager<\/a><\/strong><\/strong>. This single extended Seager’s on-base streak to 22 consecutive games.<\/p>\n (Evan Thompson)<\/em><\/p>\nQuick Flurry of Runs for the Rangers Outpaces Athletics<\/h3>\n
What Went Right for the Athletics<\/h3>\n