Sports

Rangers Beat A's 5-2 On Beltre Slam, Lose Choo To Broken Arm

August 16, 2016 / 5:10 AM CDT / CBS Texas

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ARLINGTON (AP) - Adrian Beltre's decisive grand slam came shortly after the Texas Rangers ended a 24-inning scoreless streak -- and three batters after Shin-Soo Choo was possibly lost for the season with a fractured left forearm when he was hit by a pitch.

The news on Choo, who is headed to the disabled list for the fourth time this season, dampened a 5-2 win over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night following consecutive shutout losses at home to Detroit.

"He's such a key part of this ballclub, this organization," manager Jeff Banister said of his right fielder, who started this game as the designated hitter in his regular leadoff spot. "You feel terrible for him personally and obviously it's a gut punch but one that we're going to be challenged with."

Martin Perez pitched seven strong innings for his first win since late June.

Beltre's 100th home run at Globe Life Park, which went about a dozen rows above the 14-foot wall in left field, came against former teammate Ross Detwiler (1-1) in the fifth inning with Texas trailing 2-1.

Following the pitch from Detwiler that hit Choo, Ian Desmond and Carlos Beltran singled to set up the 10th career slam for Beltre.

Choo checked his swing as the ball hit an area near his left wrist, and he immediately dropped to one knee. He left after spending several minutes talking to an athletic trainer and was replaced by Nomar Mazara.

The 34-year-old Choo has been limited to 45 games by calf and hamstring strains and lower back inflammation. Team spokesman John Blake said the injury was similar to one sustained in April by catcher Robinson Chirinos, who missed two months.

"Somebody you played with last year, somebody that's your friend, you hate for that pitch to get away from you," said Detwiler, who opened 2015 in the Texas rotation but was let go after starting 0-5. "It's not a good sign when you get pulled out of the game."

The AL West-leading Rangers -- the first AL team to 70 wins -- were an out shy of 25 straight scoreless innings when Elvis Andrus lined a single to right in the fourth.

Perez (8-8) gave up five hits and two runs -- one earned -- with six strikeouts in seven innings. He had gone 0-4 over eight starts since a 6-2 win against Boston on June 26.

The left-hander set a Texas record with his 32nd groundball double play, an inning-ender by Brett Eibner in the fourth. C.J. Wilson had the previous mark of 31 in 2011. Perez got another one to end the sixth.

Matt Bush struck out two in a perfect eighth, and Sam Dyson got another double play in the ninth for his 27th save.

Coming off eight shutout innings in a 1-0 win over Baltimore in his first big league start this season, Detwiler held the Rangers scoreless for three innings but didn't make it out of the fifth. He gave up seven hits and five runs in 4 2/3 innings.

Ryon Healy led off the second with his sixth homer to give Oakland a 2-0 lead.

REPLACING CHOO
The Rangers will recall outfielder Ryan Rua from Triple-A Round Rock to take Choo's spot on the roster. Mazara, a rookie who emerged the first time Choo got hurt this season, will see time in right. The leadoff spot was mostly a mix of Jurickson Profar and Delino DeShields during Choo's third DL stint with the back injury.

BELTRE'S BLAST
The homer was Beltre's 19th of the season and gave him 432 for his career, breaking a tie with Cal Ripken on the career list. It was Beltre's first slam since April 2, 2011, his second game with the Rangers. John Lackey was pitching for Boston, Beltre's team the previous year.

UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Andrew Triggs (0-1, 5.50 ERA) is in his eighth stint with Oakland this season. He has two starts among his first 20 appearances, including a 9-6 loss to Baltimore last week.

Rangers: RHP Lucas Harrell (3-2, 4.20 AL/NL) is scheduled for his fourth start with Texas while facing the prospect of being replaced in the rotation by Derek Holland, who is eligible to return from the 60-day disabled list Saturday following a bout with left shoulder inflammation.