Oakland

Rangers win, close gap on A’s in first

Published

12 years ago

August 3, 2013

Oakland, CA – The match-up was well anticipated, both teams hold the top two spots in the American League West. The Texas Rangers have won their last four games three included walk-off wins. Tonight they extended that winning streak with a 8-3 victory over the A’s.

Luckily for Oakland, they built a cushion to remain 2.5 games ahead of the Rangers. Extending their losing streak to three games, the A’s did get off to a good start in the first frame. With a 2-0 lead, Oakland took advantage of Alexi Ogando’s struggles early.

“It just didn’t feel good tonight,” Ogando said. “I didn’t have my control like I normally do. It was just one of those nights.”

He yielded a free pass to both Jed Lowrie and Yoenis Cespedes. Brandon Moss followed clearing the bases with a two-run double. Unfortunately, the A’s lead didn’t last long. Nelson Cruz blasted a 2-run homer to center field to tie the game 2-2.

“I felt fine early on, in the bullpen and the first inning,” said Tommy Milone. “Even in the second inning, it was just one bad pitch to Cruz. From the third on, it just escalated.”

Texas added two more runs in the third extending their 4-2. Oakland tried to come back bottom of the inning with two runners on in both corners. But Josh Donaldson hit into a double play to end the rally.

The defense collapsed and the errors began to pile up for the A’s. Craig Gentry grounded a double right past Josh Donaldson at third base to allow him to reach second safely. That set up Jurickson Profar’s two-run homer to left field.

“It’s frustrating,” Oakland’s manager Bob Melvin said. “We’re getting the opportunities, and if you continue to give yourself opportunities you’re going to break through at times. And it did seem like we were swinging the bats like we’re capable of, and then we’ve just been a little stagnant. We’ve been getting the baserunners, we’re just not getting the hits when we have the opportunity.”

Milone’s night on the mound ended after giving up a single to Leonys Martin in the fourth after Profar’s home run. Dan Otero came in and struck out Ian Kinsler to end the inning. Tommy’s outing lasted 3 2/3, yielding nine hits, six runs, two strikeouts and two home runs.

Coco Crisp cut the lead in half bottom of the frame, when he hit a double RBI to right-fielder Nelson [Cruz] who fumbled the ball off his glove. That was the A’s last run despite having an opportunity to score more runs in the fifth.

Robbie Ross loaded the bases with two outs. Runners were in scoring position after Ross gave up two singles and a wild pitch. Chris Young was to pinch-hit for Seth Smith and Rangers manager Ron Washington went to his bullpen and replaced Robbie with Jason Fraser. Melvin then replaced Young with Alberto Callaspo who flew out to center field to end the rally.

“This is what we’re capable of doing,” said Cruz who is facing suspension following his involvement with the Biogensis clinic. “We got into a slump, now I think we’re out of the slump. It couldn’t come at a better time.”

“You never know where things are going to end up,” said Brandon Moss. “They’ve played us well all year. I think they’ve definitely had our number a little bit, so we need to come out and win some games and get some confidence going and finish out the homestand positively.”

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Oakland Post: Week of May 7 – 13, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of May 7 – 13, 2025

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3 days ago

May 9, 2025

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Oakland Post: Week of April 30 – May 6, 2025

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of April 30 – May 6, 2025

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1 week ago

May 4, 2025

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Barbara Lee Accepts Victory With “Responsibility, Humility and Love”

“I accept your choice with a deep sense of responsibility, humility, and love. Oakland is a deeply divided City,” Lee said in an April 19 statement. “I answered the call to run to unite our community, so that I can represent every voter, and we can all work together as One Oakland to solve our most pressing problems.”

Published

2 weeks ago

April 28, 2025

Oakland Post

Barbara Lee. File photo.

By Antonio‌ ‌Ray‌ ‌Harvey‌,
California‌ ‌Black‌ ‌Media‌

As a candidate for mayor, former U.S. Representative Barbara Lee released a “10-point plan” last week to reassure residents that she will tackle Oakland’s most pressing challenges.

Now that she has edged out her competitors in the ranked-choice special election with 50% or more of the vote, the former Congresswoman, who represented parts of the Bay Area in the U.S. House of Representatives, can put her vision in motion as the city’s first Black woman mayor.

On Saturday evening, Taylor conceded to Lee. There are still about 300 Vote-by-Mail ballots left to be verified, according to county election officials. The ballots will be processed on April 21 and April 22.

“This morning, I called Congresswoman Barbara Lee to congratulate her on becoming the next Mayor of Oakland,” Taylor said in a statement.

“I pray that Mayor-Elect Lee fulfills her commitment to unify Oakland by authentically engaging the 47% of Oaklanders who voted for me and who want pragmatic, results-driven leadership.”

The influential Oakland Post endorsed Lee’s campaign, commending her leadership on the local, state, and federal levels.

Paul Cobb, The Post’s publisher, told California Black Media that Lee will bring back “respect and accountability” to the mayor’s office.

“She is going to be a collegial leader drawing on the advice of community nonprofit organizations and those who have experience in dealing with various issues,” Cobb said. “She’s going to try to do a consensus-building thing among those who know the present problems that face the city.”

Born in El Paso, Texas, Lee’s family moved to California while she was in high school. At 20 years old, Lee divorced her husband after the birth of her first child. After the split, Lee went through a tough period, becoming homeless and having to apply for public assistance to make ends meet.

But destitution did not deter the young woman.

Lee groomed herself to become an activist and advocate in Oakland and committed to standing up for the most vulnerable citizens in her community.

Lee traveled to Washington, D.C. to work for then U.S. Congressman Ron Dellums after receiving a Bachelor of Arts degree from Mills College in Oakland in 1973. Lee later won a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) fellowship to attend the School of Social Welfare, and she earned a Master of Social Work from the University of California-Berkeley in 1975.

Lee later served in the California State Assembly and State Senate before she was elected to Congress in 1998.

After serving in the U.S. Congress for more than 25 years, Lee ran unsuccessfully for California’s U.S. Senate in the 2024 primary election.

Lee joins current Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass and former San Francisco Mayor London Breed as Black women serving as chief executives of major cities in California over the last few years.