OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) – Chris Bassitt threw a three-hit ball over seven scoreless innings to win his ninth straight decision, and the Oakland Athletics beat Texas Rangers 3-1 on Wednesday night.
“Just do his thing, like we’ve seen him so many times this year,” said A manager Bob Melvin. “Had to get out of a jam on the sixth and they hit a few balls hard on the seventh, but that’s what an ace does.”
Frank Schwindel hit his first career homer on his debut, having played earlier on the day of 2,000. Player in franchise history. Elvis Andrus added two hits.
Joey Gallo homered for the fourth game in a row for the Rangers, who had won four in a row.
“(Bassitt) hasn’t given us much,” said Texas manager Chris Woodward. “We sometimes put him under a bit of pressure, but he blew himself out.”
Bassitt (9-2) dropped 16 of his first 18 batter and threw himself out of a two-out jam with runners on the corners in the sixth when he got Gallo to take first place on a 3-2 pitch.
Bassitt, who defeated the Rangers on June 24th, hasn’t lost since April 6th and has the longest active winning streak in the majors.
“I had a much better fastball than you last saw, so I knew I was in the driver’s seat at the start,” said Bassitt. “Then it was all about execution.”
Yusmeiro Petit withdrew three thugs. Lou Trivino allowed Gallos Homer one out in the ninth – the sixth in four Rangers Slugger games – and consecutive singles before hitting the final two outs for his 13th.
The day after he was called up by the minors on his 29th birthday, Dizziness stood on the plate in the second inning, watching after sending a 1-0 pitch from starter Kolby Allard across the left field line to the second deck . Schwimel pumped both arms back and forth in the A’s dugout as he congratulated his teammates, then waited briefly while the referees checked and confirmed the call.
“I don’t usually watch her, but I stood there and made sure she hit the seats in fair territory,” Vertigo said. “I got nervous for a second, but when I saw (the umps) make the little homerun sign, I felt pretty good.”
Schwindel made his major debut with the Royals, playing six games in 2019. He was called up to add a much-needed right-handed bat to Melvin’s lineup while Mark Canha and Stephen Piscotty recover from injuries.
“The energy he put on the right track was pretty great, which Frank the Tank celebrated in the dugout,” said Bassitt. “If you can score early it won’t change my game plan, but it makes my life a lot easier.”
Allard (2-4) allowed three runs and four hits in six innings. He cut five and went one.
“That (second) was the only inning he actually fell behind Hitters,” said Woodward. “Kolby was really good for the rest of the game.”
TRAINER ROOM
Rangers: C Jose Trevino is out day in and day out and remains under surveillance after bruising his right thigh in his hotel room on Tuesday. … C / DH Sam Huff is without a goal in two games of a rehab assignment with ACL Rangers (rookie).
Athletics: Canha was given a PRP injection in hopes to aid his recovery from a strained left hip. Canha has been on the injured list since June 25 and will be released on Monday. … Piscotty (sprained left wrist) participated in a full practice session before the game. Melvin isn’t sure Piscotty needs a rehab assignment.
NEXT
Athletics LHP Sean Manaea (6-4, 2.91 ERA) throws up the series finals on Wednesday and has seven wins in 13 career starts against the Rangers. RHP Dane Dunning (3-6, 4.63) leaves for Texas after winning one of his last five starts.
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