Rangers Beat A's 4-1 In Preseason
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SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) - Chi Chi Gonzalez threw three scoreless innings, Rougned Odor homered and the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 4-1 Monday.
Gonzalez, a candidate to replace the injured Yu Darvish in the Rangers' rotation, threw 58 pitches and allowed two hits, three walks and struck out three.
Odor homered in the third off A's right-hander Jesse Hahn. Prince Fielder, who homered and drove in three runs Sunday against Cleveland, added another RBI with a rare infield single in the fifth.
Chris Gimenez drilled a two-run single off Eury De La Rosa in the sixth to cap off the Texas scoring.
Hahn, who is competing for a job in the A's rotation, gave up a run on three hits, while walking one and striking out two. The A's avoided a shutout when Matt Olson homered in the eighth.
The A's loaded the bases with none out in the ninth, but failed to score off minor leaguers Mark Rogers and Kohsuke Tomita.
If Chi Chi Gonzalez continues to pitch as he did Monday, he could earn a spot in a Texas Rangers rotation which suddenly has two vacancies after a possible season-ending elbow injury to ace Yu Darvish.
Gonzalez threw three scoreless innings and Rougned Odor homered as the Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 4-1.
Gonzalez, a 2013 first-round draft pick who went 12-6 with a 2.66 ERA last season with two minor league clubs, walked three, struck out three and gave up two singles.
"I'm just trying to stay healthy through spring training, make every start and make it tough on whoever is making that decision on where to put me," Gonzalez said. "I'm trying to get there (big leagues) and stay there. I didn't try to do anything special. I was just trying to let the hitters get themselves out."
Odor homered into the Rangers' bullpen in the third off Jesse Hahn, who is competing for a spot in Oakland's rotation.
"I threw back-to-back change-ups to Odor and he got one of them," Hahn said. "We would never throw him back-to-back change-ups (during the season), but I'm going to pound the zone with change-ups until I master that pitch. Right now, it's not one of my best pitches."
Prince Fielder had a rare infield RBI single in the fifth. Chris Gimenez drilled a two-run single in the sixth to finish the Texas scoring.
The A's avoided a shutout when Matt Olson homered in the eighth. Oakland loaded the bases with none out in the ninth, but failed to score off minor leaguers Mark Rogers and Kohsuke Tomita.
STARTING TIME
Athletics: RHP Jesse Hahn threw 37 pitches in three innings, striking out two and walking one. OF Billy Burns made a diving catch of Odor's liner to left in the first inning. "I need to buy him dinner," Hahn said. "That was an unbelievable play. He deserves a lot after that one."
Rangers: Gonzalez needed 58 pitches for three innings. "I wish I could have thrown less pitches," Gonzalez said. "I got behind a lot of hitters. They had a runner on second base every inning."
VOGT RETURNS
A's C Stephen Vogt, who had October foot surgery, made his spring debut. It was his first time catching since July 3. "It's been a while," Vogt said. "I feel my foot is healed and repaired. I had no pain, no discomfort, no issues whatsoever as far as the feet. I feel great. It just felt nice to get back there. I can go out there knowing I won't be doing anything that will hurt it again,"
RIGHT FIELD OPEN
With A's RF Josh Reddick likely to begin the season on the disabled list with a pulled right oblique, manager Bob Melvin is looking at right field candidates. One is Ben Zobrist, who started 47 games in the outfield last season with Tampa Bay. Rule 5 pick Mark Canha will get a lengthy look in spring training, starting in right Monday. Craig Gentry and Sam Fuld are slated to split time in center, but can play all the outfield positions.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Athletics: OF Coco Crisp will miss a few games with a right triceps strain. LHP Sean Nolin, who had sports hernia surgery, threw 30 pitches off flat ground.
Rangers: RHP Darvish left for a Tuesday appointment in New York with Dr. David Altchek for a second opinion on his elbow after the initial MRI detected ulnar collateral ligament damage.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Sonny Gray, the A's likely opening day starter, will make his first Cactus League start Tuesday against the Diamondbacks.
Rangers: 1B Kyle Blanks will play for the first time Tuesday against the Angels after being sidelined with left Achilles tendinitis.
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