STEPHEN HAWKINS
AP Sports Writer
Nick Tepesch has proven his durability for the Texas Rangers this season. The right-hander just got a bit erratic with his fastball in his final start.
Tepesch didn’t make it out of the fifth inning Friday night in a 6-2 loss to the Oakland Athletics, who moved oh so close to their third consecutive playoff appearance.
“He wasn’t hitting his spots. I looked up there I believe in the fifth inning and it was almost 50-50 strikes and balls,” interim manager Tim Bogar said. “I just don’t think he had his touch tonight. He couldn’t throw it where he wanted to throw it. … Tonight was a bit of a step back, nothing crazy.”
Only 46 of Tepesch’s 88 pitches were strikes as he allowed six runs and six hits, with four walks in 4 1-3 innings. But he has thrown 126 innings this season.
Josh Reddick drove in three runs and Scott Kazmir (15-9) won for the first time in seven starts for the A’s, who need to win one of their last two games in the series at Texas — or a loss by Seattle — to clinch an American League wild-card spot. The Mariners won 4-3 later Friday night against the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels.
Adam Dunn, the big designated hitter batting in the No. 2 spot for the first time since June 2008, had a two-run double in the third for Oakland (87-73). Dunn, in his 14th major league season, was acquired by the A’s on Aug. 31 and is looking to get to the playoffs for the first time.
Texas had its five-game winning streak snapped. Only their second loss in 14 games assured the Rangers (66-94) will finish fifth in the AL West after Houston (70-90) won at the New York Mets on Friday night.
Kazmir struck out five without a walk while limiting the Rangers to two runs (one earned) and four hits over seven innings.
“It’s been a long time coming it feels like. Just feels good,” Kazmir said.
The lefty was 0-4 with an 8.58 ERA his previous six starts since his last win Aug. 19. The 15 wins are a career high, but only four of those have come since the All-Star break.
The A’s were a season-best 28 games over .500 and had a four-game lead in the AL West on Aug. 10. But they lost 29 of their next 43 games and entered the final weekend of the regular season still without a playoff spot secured.
Texas led 1-0 right away, when Leonys Martin had a leadoff single, stole second and scored on Ryan Rua’s double. But Kazmir then retired 10 in a row, and the Rangers didn’t score again until an unearned run in the fifth.
Martin’s RBI grounder drove in Rougned Odor, who reached after first baseman Brandon Moss’ error when he threw behind Kazmir, who was going to cover first base.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Athletics: OF Craig Gentry, who hasn’t played since sustaining a concussion in a game Sept. 9, felt good a day after watching some pitches in the bullpen and getting on the field.
Rangers: Interim manager Tim Bogar would like to get OF Jim Adduci in a game this weekend. “Just make sure that he’s mentally OK with everything before he leaves here,” Bogar said. Adduci sustained a concussion Aug. 28 and is still dealing with a pinkie issue.
UP NEXT
Athletics: RHP Jeff Samardzija, another midseason addition, is set to start the third game of the series. He is 2-2 in his past six starts despite a 1.40 ERA.
Rangers: LHP Derek Holland (2-0) makes his sixth and final start after missing the first five months of the season rehabbing from microfracture surgery on his left knee.
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