Semien Homers In A's 3-1 Win Over Rangers
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OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - Sean Manaea cut off the fluffy curls he brought to spring training and responded with his first major-league victory. He just needed a change.
Marcus Semien homered in support of Manaea, who allowed four hits over 6 2/3 innings, and the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 3-1 on Monday night.
"It took you a minute to focus and realize what happened," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "That's a lot of hair he cut off. He probably lost a few pounds."
Khris Davis and Billy Butler drove in runs for the A's, who won for the third time in four games following a five-game losing skid.
Drew Stubbs drove in a run for the Rangers, who lost for just the third time in 10 games.
Manaea (1-1) earned his first win in his fourth career start. He entered the game with a gaudy 11.37 ERA and finished at 7.91. He gave up a run, walked one and struck out two.
"First three starts didn't go as well as I wanted to, and as a team we were kind of struggling," Manaea said. "I just felt like it was time for a change. I shaved it last May. I got it cut this time in Tampa."
Texas starter Derek Holland (3-3) turned in a quality start, though the one bad inning cost him. He gave up two runs and three hits over six innings. Holland walked one and struck out one.
"The hit by pitch, the jam shot and the walk put him in a challenging position," Rangers manager Jeff Banister said. "His struggle was finding the out pitch in that inning."
Manaea retired 18 of the first 21 batters he faced and never had to labor through an inning. The left-hander gave up eight runs in 2 2/3 innings in his last start, against the Boston Red Sox.
"He came off a pretty tough outing, for someone who's probably never experienced something like that," Melvin said. "This is a good lineup. They're playing well. To get us as deep as he did in the game like that and to keep them to one run is impressive."
Holland took a no-hitter into the fourth and then got himself in trouble by hitting Billy Burns with a pitch and walking Danny Valencia sandwiched around a single by Josh Reddick. Davis hit a sacrifice fly and Butler followed with a single.
"He threw a lot of pitches that inning," Banister said. "He had the challenge of not being able to put hitters away."
Semien hit his 10th home run, a solo shot off Luke Jackson that sailed over the fence in center field.
Ryan Madson recorded the final three outs for his 11th save in as many chances.
JACKSON GETS BACK
Jackson was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock and wasted no time, appearing in his first big-league game since last September. He pitched two innings, allowing a home run and nothing else.
"I want to show them what I had been working on," Jackson said. "I got healthy, pounded the zone a little more and I'm ready to rock and roll."
Jackson said he returned to his slider as "kind of the fix." He's fully recovered from a lower back stress reaction that placed him on the disabled list during spring training.
TRAINER'S ROOM:
Rangers: RHP Tom Wilhelmsen, a six-year veteran, was optioned to Round Rock to clear a spot for Jackson. ... DH Prince Fielder, batting .090 (3 for 33) over his past nine games, was not in the starting lineup.
Athletics: RHP Henderson Alvarez suffered a small setback in his recovery from right shoulder surgery. He had to be removed from his last rehab start because of soreness in his shoulder. He returned to Oakland and will be examined by team doctors. ... C Josh Phegley (knee soreness) has missed six games and could be placed on the DL if he can't play by the next series. ... IF Jed Lowrie (right shin contusion) participated in baseball activities before Monday's game.
UP NEXT:
Rangers: LHP Cole Hamels (4-0, 2.95) brings a career-high 11-game winning streak into Tuesday's start. He won his only other start in Oakland, not allowing an earned run in six innings last September.
Athletics: LHP Eric Surkamp (0-3, 6.35) makes the start Tuesday night. He's looking for his first major-league victory since September 2014.
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