Langeliers, Wilson hit HRs as Athletics beat Rangers 6-5, sit atop AL West

Athletics take first place in AL West for first time since 2021 with victory over Rangers

Apr. 16, 2026 at 5:13am

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A fragmented, cubist-style painting depicting a baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers. The players and field are represented as abstracted, angular shapes in a vibrant color palette, creating a dynamic and energetic visual representation of the game.An abstract, cubist-inspired illustration captures the dynamic energy of the Athletics' victory over the Rangers, with the players and field deconstructed into a symphony of geometric shapes and bold colors.Today in Sacramento

Shea Langeliers hit a 467-foot home run, the longest in the majors this season, and Jacob Wilson also hit a two-run shot to help the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 6-5 on Wednesday night. The win puts the Athletics (10-8) alone atop the AL West, a game ahead of the Rangers (9-9), for the first time since June 2021.

Why it matters

The Athletics' victory over the Rangers marks the first time the team has been in first place in the AL West since 2021, a significant milestone for the franchise as they look to return to the playoffs for the first time in several seasons. The game featured impressive home runs from young Athletics players, showcasing the team's offensive potential.

The details

Shea Langeliers hit a towering 467-foot home run, the longest in the majors this season, to give the Athletics a 4-2 lead in the sixth inning. Jacob Wilson also hit a two-run shot in the seventh to make it 6-2. The Athletics' bullpen held on for the victory, with Joel Kuhnel earning his third save of the season. The Rangers made a late comeback attempt with a two-run homer from Corey Seager and a three-run shot from Jake Burger in the eighth, but fell short.

  • The Athletics (10-8) are alone atop the AL West, a game ahead of Texas (9-9), for the first time since since June 19, 2021.
  • Langeliers' 467-foot home run in the sixth inning was the longest in the majors this season.

The players

Shea Langeliers

A young Athletics player who hit a 467-foot home run, the longest in the majors this season.

Jacob Wilson

An Athletics player who hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning to extend the team's lead.

Corey Seager

A Rangers player who hit a two-run home run in the third inning.

Jake Burger

A Rangers player who hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to make it a one-run game.

Joel Kuhnel

The Athletics' closer who earned his third save of the season.

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What’s next

The Rangers and Athletics will wrap up their four-game series on Thursday, with Texas' Jack Leiter scheduled to start against Jacob Lopez of the Athletics.

The takeaway

The Athletics' young offensive talent, led by Langeliers and Wilson, has helped the team take an early lead in the AL West. If they can maintain this momentum, the Athletics could be a surprise contender in the division this season.