Fielder Drives In 2 Runs, Leads Rangers To 3-1 Win Over A's
JANIE McCAULEY, AP Baseball Writer
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Jeff Banister smelled of beer from a postgame dousing by his Texas team to celebrate the manager's first victory at the big league level, and he held onto the wrinkled lineup card as a souvenir for his 13-year-old son, Jacob.
Healthy at last — "I can feel both my arms" — Prince Fielder was thrilled he contributed to a special night for Banister and the rest of the Rangers in a 3-1 win against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday.
"For sure. It's his first one," the slugger said. "We gave him a little bit (of beer). We gave him a little bit of love."
Fielder hit a pair of run-scoring singles as the Rangers bounced back from being shut out on opening day. Colby Lewis (1-0) struck out four and shut down his former club over six sharp innings in his season debut.
The Rangers snapped a scoreless streak of 21 regular-season innings when Fielder punched a single to shallow center that just eluded the outstretched glove of shortstop Marcus Semien in the third.
"A fantastic night for the Texas Rangers," Banister said.
Fielder also had an RBI single in the fifth, and the Rangers got another run on an error by right fielder Craig Gentry.
"That's my job, to be a run producer," Fielder said.
Sam Fuld tripled in the sixth and scored Oakland's lone run on a groundout by Eric Sogard.
Lewis gave up three hits and walked two, then gave way to Keone Kela, who made his big league debut and immediately allowed Billy Butler's single. Ike Davis walked and Rangers pitching coach Mike Maddux paid the rookie a visit. After Brett Lawrie struck out swinging, Stephen Vogt singled to load the bases.
"He keeps a good pace out there," said Lawrie, whose four strikeouts matched his career high. "They got a couple on us and we couldn't respond."
Texas shortstop Elvis Andrus then turned nice double play by taking it himself to second before firing to first to end the inning.
Neftali Feliz pitched the ninth for his first save, and 88th in 99 career opportunities.
"It was amazing," Andrus said. "Especially after what happened last night, to turn the page."
A night after Sonny Gray took a no-hit bid into the eighth, 6-foot-5 right-hander Jesse Hahn couldn't make it another win by the rotation in his Oakland debut.
Hahn (0-1), who came to the A's from San Diego in one of nine trades Oakland made during a busy offseason even by this club's standards, was tagged for three runs and seven hits in six innings. He struck out three and didn't walk a batter but plunked two with pitches.
His next start comes Sunday against Seattle ace Felix Hernandez, who shut down the Angels on opening day.
Fielder went 0 for 4 with a strikeout in Monday's opener after missing most of 2014 following a cervical fusion of two disks in his neck last May, ending his then-major league-best streak of 547 consecutive games played since 2010.
FAVORITE FOE
Lewis has his way with the A's. He is 9-4 with a 3.15 ERA in 23 appearances and 21 starts — his most victories against any opponent.
"The first inning was kind of shaky," he said. "I had to start making some pitches."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers: RHP Nick Tepesch, a candidate to make the rotation out of spring training who wound up at Triple-A Round Rock, has been shut down to recover from ulnar nerve irritation in his throwing elbow. GM Jon Daniels said the pitcher felt discomfort throwing a bullpen before camp broke and saw team physician Dr. Keith Meister. Tepesch will rest for three weeks and then begin a three-week throwing program.
Athletics: RHP Jarrod Parker threw 30 pitches in a two-inning simulated game and is set to throw three innings Monday at extended spring training in another step toward his return from a second Tommy John surgery that kept him out all of 2014. ... RF Josh Reddick (oblique) is scheduled to return Saturday after beginning the season on the DL.
UP NEXT
Rangers: LHP Ross Detwiler makes his Texas debut Wednesday night against the A's after being acquired from the Nationals in December.
Athletics: LHP Scott Kazmir, a 15-game winner last season, looks to improve to 10-5 in his career against the Rangers after going 3-1 vs. Texas in 2014.
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