Athletics stagger home from 2-5 road trip after loss to Rangers

The Athletics will return to the Coliseum this weekend having said goodbye to veterans Stephen Piscotty and Elvis Andrus as well as a modest two-game win streak.

Zach Logue gave up seven runs in 4 1/3 innings Thursday in a getaway day 10-3 loss to the Texas Rangers, concluding a 2-5 road trip that included the release of two veteran players who were unlikely to be back in whatever form the A’s roster takes in 2023. The A’s fell to 43-78 with 14 losses in their last 17 games as Texas improved to 53-65.

The road trip also included the news that All-Star right-handed starter Paul Blackburn will miss the remainder of the season with the tear of a flexor tendon sheath on his throwing hand. Infielder Jed Lowrie was released just before the road trip began on Aug. 10.

“That’s part of this process, part of being here and where we’re at as an organization,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “I thought we battled. We got two games, we split the series, which is a positive for me with what this team has been through the past few weeks.”

Mike Mathias hit his second home run for Texas, with Nathaniel Lowe adding a three-run shot in the fifth, his 17th. Sheldon Neuse hit his fourth home run of the season for the A’s in the fourth inning.

Logue (2-7), recalled from Las Vegas for the sixth time, has given up nine home runs in 45 1/3 innings with the big club this season. Domingo Tapia and Austin Pruitt finished up, as Texas recorded 10 hits with six walks and two hit batters against A’s pitching.

Dane Dunning (3-6) was the winning pitcher for Texas, giving up four hits and two runs with three walks and four strikeouts in six innings. Brett Martin, Matt Moore and Jose Leclerc each pitched an inning of relief for the Rangers.

Texas scored twice in the second off Logue on a single from Jonah Heim and a two-out solo home run by Mathias.

BRAND NEW BALLGAME pic.twitter.com/yhWMzrYXon

— Oakland A's (@Athletics) August 18, 2022

Neuse tied it in the fourth on a two-run home run, which brought home Seth Brown, who doubled off Dunning with one out.

Logue had a regrettable beginning to the fourth when he hit Lowe on the backside with a 3-2 pitch and then walked Adolis García. Predictably, both scored, with Lowe scoring on Heim’s single and Garcia on a sacrifice fly by Leody Tavares.

The Rangers chased Logue in the fifth when Lowe hit a three-run home run for a 7-2 lead.

“Limiting free passes and not getting the leadoff guy out were two things I didn’t do today,” Logue said. “It’s going to be tough to put up zeroes that way and that was kind of the case today.”

Logue first walked Semien, with Corey Seager following with a single to center. It chased Semien to third, with Vimael Machin coming off the bag and missing an opportunity to convert a strong throw by Cal Stevenson into the second out. Seager took second, and Lowe followed with a home run to right center.

“Kind of erratic. Not great command,” Kotsay said. “There wasn’t a lot of swing and miss and ultimately the two home runs got him on balls up in the zone. He battled, but it wasn’t his day.”

‘NOTABLE

— The A’s fell to 7-10 against Texas, losing the season series against the Rangers for the first time since 2016 when they were 9-10.

— In his first game as a catcher after being the designated hitter for two games, Shea Langeliers showed his defensive prowess twice in the first two innings. First, after Marcus Semien walked to lead off the game, Langeliers cut him down on a steal attempt with a perfect throw to the bag.

In the second inning, Langeliers retrieved a wild pitch by Logue off the backstop and flipped the ball to Logue at the plate in time to get a sliding Heim.

Langeliers also doubled in the seventh inning and later scored on a wild pitch.

“The caught stealing, we’re used to seeing that around here with Murph (Sean Murphy),” Kotsay said. “Obviously it was nice for him to get his first caught stealing.”

— Regarding Andrus signing with the Chicago White Sox, Kotsay said, “I think guys are aware Andrus signed with the White Sox so they were happy for him. It wasn’t all a downer, and the guys in that room know that we’re building for the future and we’re going to give them an opportunity to go out and play and make a statement.”

— The Athletics begin a 10-game homestand Friday night at 6:40 against the Seattle Mariners with Cole Irvin (6-10, 3.13) opposing Marco Gonzalez (7-12, 4.18).

After a three-game series with the Mariners, the A’s have three against the Miami Marlins and four games against the New York Yankees.