Rangers Rout A's Behind Burger's Big Night, Eovaldi's Gem

Texas takes series opener with dominant pitching and timely hitting

Apr. 14, 2026 at 5:22am

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An abstract, expressionist painting in vibrant neon colors depicts the powerful swing and motion of a baseball player, with the player's face and uniform details blurred into dynamic brushstrokes, capturing the raw energy of the game.A neon-hued, energetic painting captures the explosive power of Rangers slugger Jake Burger's two-homer performance against the A's.West Sacramento Today

The Texas Rangers cruised to an 8-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Monday night, powered by a strong outing from starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi and a big game at the plate from Jake Burger. Burger hit two home runs and drove in four runs, while Eovaldi tossed seven scoreless innings to earn the win.

Why it matters

This win helps the Rangers maintain their position in the AL West standings, as they look to make a push for the playoffs. The loss snaps a five-game winning streak for the A's, who have been one of the surprise teams in baseball so far this season.

The details

Burger got the Rangers off to a fast start, belting a three-run homer in the first inning off A's starter Luis Severino. He added a solo shot in the third to give Texas a 4-0 lead. Eovaldi was dominant on the mound, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out seven over seven innings of work. The Rangers broke the game open with a four-run eighth inning, highlighted by RBI singles from Josh Smith and Josh Jung.

  • The game was played on Monday, April 14, 2026 in West Sacramento, California.
  • Burger's first home run came in the first inning, while his second came in the third inning.

The players

Jake Burger

A slugging third baseman for the Texas Rangers, Burger hit two home runs and drove in four runs in the win.

Nathan Eovaldi

The veteran right-hander for the Rangers tossed seven scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and two walks while striking out seven.

Luis Severino

The A's starting pitcher struggled, allowing four runs on six hits, including both of Burger's homers, over six innings of work.

Lawrence Butler

The A's outfielder hit a solo home run in the eighth inning to break up the Rangers' shutout bid.

Josh Smith

The Rangers infielder delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning to help blow the game open.

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What they’re saying

“We must have been locked in from the start. Burger set the tone early with those two big homers, and Eovaldi was just dominant on the mound. It was a complete team effort.”

— Chris Woodward, Rangers Manager

What’s next

The Rangers and A's will continue their four-game series on Tuesday night in West Sacramento.

The takeaway

This win showcases the Rangers' offensive firepower and starting pitching depth, as they look to make a push towards the playoffs in the competitive AL West. For the A's, it serves as a reminder that they still have work to do to prove they are a legitimate contender in the division.