Oakland Gets Past Texas 3-1 To Spoil Colon's Rangers Debut
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Athletics got more than they expected in Andrew Triggs' first start since suffering a season-ending hip injury last June. The bullpen was pretty good, too.
Triggs pitched five effective innings, Jed Lowrie hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the seventh, and the A's beat Texas 3-1 on Monday night, spoiling the Rangers debut of Bartolo Colon.
"At some point in time it's going to be tough to keep covering four innings of a game," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said. "I'm glad we have an eight-man bullpen because there are a couple guys not available every day, as there will be tomorrow."
Triggs allowed four hits — including Joey Gallo's RBI single in the fifth — struck out seven and walked two.
Ryan Buchter followed Triggs with 1 2/3 innings, and Chris Hatcher (2-0) retired two batters for the win. Blake Treinen got five outs for his first save despite allowing the first two batters to reach in the ninth.
"Our team is built to finish games and we've got a lot of good arms in the bullpen that can go multiple innings," Treinen said. "It's a nice luxury to have. You win a game 3-1 against an offense that you see all the time, you tip your cap to Triggs, the bullpen doing the work and the offense coming in with some big hits in the seventh."
Matt Chapman homered for the second time in two days, and Matt Olson and Jonathan Lucroy had two hits apiece for Oakland. The A's had lost three straight since beating the Angels on opening day.
The Rangers have dropped six consecutive road openers and nine consecutive games at the Coliseum.
"If our guys continue to take the approaches that they're taking, get on base, continue to swing the bat and find the barrel, some of those hard-hit balls are going to find the grass and we'll get rolling," Texas manager Jeff Banister said.
Called up from the minors before the game, Colon allowed seven hits in six innings. The A's only run off the portly right-hander came on Chapman's homer leading off the third.
At 44 years, 313 days old, Colon became the oldest player in the majors this season, slipping past Seattle's Ichiro Suzuki, who is four months younger. Last season Suzuki said he wanted to play until he's 50.
Colon might not stick around that long, but he pitched well enough in his first start of the season.
"Mentally and physically I think have a lot to give," Colon said. "I felt great throwing strikes. That's what I do."
The A's went ahead to stay in the seventh. Lucroy hit a one-out double off Kevin Jepsen (0-1). Marcus Semien, who struck out twice against Colon, walked with two down and Lowrie greeted Jake Diekman with a towering double off the wall in right field.
Chapman homered off Colon on an 0-2 pitch. Chapman also connected against Japanese two-way star Shohei Ohtani on Sunday.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rangers OF Delino DeShields underwent surgery on his left hand. The timetable for his return remains four to six weeks. RHP Tim Lincecum, on the disabled list since March 29 due to blisters on his right middle finger, threw a bullpen before the game.
DEFENSIVE GEM
Rangers center fielder Drew Robinson threw a two-hopper to the plate to get a sliding Lucroy trying to score from second. Catcher Robinson Chirinos caught the ball just in front of home plate.
ROSTER SHUFFLE
Texas RHP Nick Gardewine was optioned to Triple-A Round Rock to make room for Colon. RHP Ricardo Rodriguez was transferred to the 60-day disabled list. 1B Tommy Joseph cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Double-A Frisco.
UP NEXT
Texas LHP Cole Hamels (0-1, 4.76 ERA) makes his second start of the season Tuesday night after taking a loss in the Rangers' season opener. The A's counter with RHP Kendall Graveman (0-0, 9.00 ERA) who allowed five runs in five innings against Los Angeles on opening day.
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