Athletics Beat Rangers to Force Decisive 162nd Game

Athletics starting pitcher Travis Blackely threw six innings of three-hit ball in his team's win over the Rangers.  (Ben Margot)

The Oakland Athletics had trailed the Texas Rangers for almost the entire season. Entering tonight's match, they were one game back in the AL West, but the odds seemed to be against them with starting pitcher Travis Blackely on the mound. In his last start, just five days ago, the Rangers knocked him out of the game on five runs in the first inning. Blackely looked to bounce back tonight with his team's divisional dreams on the line.

Blackley looked good Tuesday night, but it was the Rangers who got on the board first. In the top of the third, outfielder Josh Hamilton doubled home second baseman Ian Kinsler. That was the last hit Blackley gave up. He threw six innings of three-hit ball, allowing only the one run. The Athletics offense came alive in support of his efforts.

In the bottom of the fifth, catcher Derek Norris plated two on a RBI single. One inning later, it was Jonny Gomes, the designated hitter, hitting a solo shot to increase the Athletics' lead to 3-1. The A's bullpen was superb in support of Blackley as well. Sean Doolittle threw a scoreless seventh inning, Ryan Cook threw a scoreless eighth, and Grant Balfour threw a three up, three done ninth for his 24th save of the season.

A night after clinching their first playoff berth since 2006, things got even better for the Athletics. After trailing the Rangers by 13 games in the AL West on June 30, the A's have battled all the way back to tie the Rangers for the division lead. This means that the winner of tomorrow afternoon's season finale at 3:35 pm EST will win the AL West and avoid the Wild Card Game. The Athletics have taken a share of the division lead for the first time since March 29. One win tomorrow and none of that will matter.