Rangers Rally in 9th to Split Series with A's

Texas scores 4 runs in final frame to earn victory over division rival

Apr. 17, 2026 at 4:10am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

A cubist, geometric painting depicting a baseball game in progress, with the players and field fragmented into sharp, overlapping planes of bright orange, blue, and green colors representing the Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics uniforms.The Rangers' dramatic 9th-inning comeback against their AL West rivals showcases the unpredictable nature of baseball's divisional races.West Sacramento Today

The Texas Rangers scored 4 runs in the 9th inning to rally past the Oakland Athletics 9-6 and split their 4-game series. Joc Pederson hit the go-ahead single in the 9th as the Rangers overcame a late 3-run double by the A's Nick Kurtz that had given Oakland a 6-5 lead.

Why it matters

This back-and-forth game between AL West rivals showcases the competitive nature of the division race, with both teams looking to gain ground early in the season. The late-inning heroics also highlight the unpredictable nature of baseball, where no lead is ever truly safe.

The details

The Rangers trailed 6-5 entering the 9th inning, but rallied against A's reliever Justin Sterner. Nate Burger and Josh Jung started the inning with singles, and Kyle Higashioka's bunt led to an errant throw that allowed the tying run to score. Pederson then delivered the go-ahead single, and Ezequiel Duran added a 2-run single to make it 9-6 Texas.

  • The game was played on Thursday, April 17, 2026 in West Sacramento, California.
  • The Rangers scored 4 runs in the top of the 9th inning to rally for the victory.

The players

Joc Pederson

Texas Rangers outfielder who hit the go-ahead single in the 9th inning to give the Rangers the lead.

Nick Kurtz

Oakland Athletics outfielder who hit a 3-run double in the 8th inning to give the A's a short-lived 6-5 lead.

Ezequiel Duran

Texas Rangers infielder who had 2 hits and 2 RBIs, including a 2-run single in the 9th inning to extend the Rangers' lead.

Josh Jung

Texas Rangers infielder who hit a 2-run home run and had 3 hits in the game.

Cal Quantrill

Texas Rangers pitcher who earned the win after pitching the bottom of the 9th inning.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We never give up, that's the mentality of this team. We knew we had a chance to come back in the 9th and we did just that.”

— Joc Pederson, Texas Rangers Outfielder

“That 9th inning really stings, we had them on the ropes and just couldn't close it out. We'll learn from this and come back stronger.”

— Nick Kurtz, Oakland Athletics Outfielder

What’s next

The Rangers and A's will meet again for a 3-game series in Oakland starting on May 5th. Both teams will look to gain ground in the tight AL West division race.

The takeaway

This back-and-forth battle between the Rangers and A's showcases the competitiveness of the AL West, where any lead is never safe and games can turn on a dime. The Rangers' late-inning heroics prove their resilience, while the A's will need to learn how to close out tight games against division rivals.