OAKLAND -- The A's shook off early clutch-hitting woes and got a two-run double from Jed Lowrie in the seventh inning to break a tie and claim a 3-1 series-opening victory over the Rangers at the Coliseum on Monday night.
Oakland was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position when Lowrie stepped to the plate against left-handed reliever Jake Diekman, who was called upon after Kevin Jepsen surrendered a double to Jonathan Lucroy and issued a two-out walk to Marcus Semien. The switch-hitting Lowrie pounced on a fastball, which bounced off the right-field wall for an A's lead that would remain intact.