61-82 - Rangers swept by Athletics after a series of missed opportunities

Trevor Cahill walked the bases loaded to start the game but allowed just one Rangers run as Texas wasted a golden opportunity to blow things wide open before Oakland even got the chance to bat.

The Rangers still led the Athletics 3-0 after three innings but, immediately upon the entrance of today’s supposed primary pitcher Ariel Jurado, the A’s scored five runs in the fourth inning and never looked back.

It feels like the Rangers are still trying to figure out the strategy of using an opener — which is intended to limit the looks the best hitters in the opposing lineup get to see of a lower tier starting pitcher — and just opting for a bullpen game.

After Jeffrey Springs was able to efficiently and effectively give the Rangers three scoreless innings to start the game, perhaps they should have just gone with the latter and skipped Jurado altogether.

Nevertheless, beating the A’s in Oakland with Cahill on the mound just never was going to happen no matter who pitched and in what order they went because that’s the most cursed set of circumstances that I can conjure.

Player of the Game: Hard to argue with three shutout innings for Springs even if his role as opener was extended beyond what is expected within the strategy of the concept. Springs ended up being used no differently than Warner Madrigal back in the day but he did so with excellent results.

Up Next: The Rangers continue their west coast trip as they open a series in Anaheim on Monday. Mike Minor will make the start for Texas against RHP Jaime Barria for the Angels. First pitch from Angel Stadium is scheduled for 9:07 pm CT.