Jonah Heim hit a tiebreaking homer and Michael Helman added a two-run blast to help the Texas Rangers notch a 5-2 victory over the Athletics on Friday night at West Sacramento, Calif.
Heim also had a sacrifice fly as the Rangers won earned their third straight win and their sixth in the past seven. Texas has crept within 3 1/2 games of the Seattle Mariners for the American League’s third wild-card berth with the Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Guardians also part of the mix.
Texas starter Jack Leiter (9-7) gave up two runs and five hits over six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.
Hoby Milner retired all four batters he faced and Shawn Armstrong retired five of the next six hitters to record his career-best fifth save.
Athletics starter Jeffrey Springs (10-9) allowed three runs and seven hits over 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked two.
Brent Rooker had a two-run double for the A’s, and Lawrence Butler collected two of the team’s five hits. Rookie star Nick Kurtz scored in the third inning, then exited with right oblique soreness.
Josh Jung had three hits and a run for the Rangers, and Kyle Higashioka added two hits and a run.
Heim came up with one out in the fifth and knocked a first-pitch fastball from Springs over the fence in left-center for a solo shot that gave Texas a 3-2 lead.
Michael Kelly was on the mound for the A’s with one out in the seventh when second baseman Zack Gelof was unable to handle Rowdy Tellez’s grounder for an error. Helman followed by driving a blast inside the left field foul pole as the Rangers took a 5-2 advantage.
Helman nearly had his first career multi-homer game, but Athletics left fielder Tyler Soderstrom reached above the wall to grab his bid, ending the top of the ninth.
Texas scored twice in the second after loading the bases with one out.
Heim’s sacrifice fly to right scored Jung with the first run. The second came across on an RBI single by Dylan Moore, who was thrown out trying to stretch it into a double to end the inning.
The Athletics loaded the bases with one out when they scored two runs in the third. After Shea Langeliers bounced into a forceout at home, Rooker sent a two-run double into left to score Gelof and Kurtz.
