2016 Opening Day – Rangers at A’s (A’s 7 – Rangers 6)
The Athletics opened the 2016 at home against the Texas Rangers and ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw. Oakland’s number one, Jose Quintana did himself and the A’s no favors by starting off slowly. Quintana allowed an opening double to Jurickson Profar and walk to Jesus Montero. Both were eventually driven in by single from Jonathan Singleton and Nick Castellanos respectively. The Rangers were able to add another run in the third inning from a Manny Machado single, a wild pitch from Quintana and anothet single from Singleton. While the Rangers were getting the runs the A’s new look lineup struggled. Through the first 4 innings the A’s were only able to manage two base runners, Kendrys Morales reached in the first on a hit by pitch and a bunt for a hit by Jemile Weeks in the third. The A’s bats finally started to heat up a bit in the bottom of the fifth inning when rookie Shawn Duinkerk and Weeks singled and the newly acquired Trevor Story and Michael Brantley were able to string together two more singles to drive in Duinkerk and Weeks. 3-2 Rangers after five. The Rangers answered right back in the top half of the 6th and chased Quintana. Qunitana allowed a double to Bobby Coyle, intentionally walked Oswaldo Arcia. Both runs were able to advance when Quintana threw his second wild pitch of the game. He then allowed a single to Profar to make the score 5-3 Texas and then he was pulled for Alexi Ogando. The Rangers added a sixth run in the top of the 8th on single-sacrifice-single from Boyle-Arcia-Jordan Weems. The A’s bat again were silenced until the botton of the 8th inning. Story lead off with a walk and that was enough for the Texas manager to pull Kershaw and go to the bullpen. The Rangers went with lefty Joe Ortiz against lefty Michael Brantley and Brantley was able to layoff of bad pitches to draw the walk. The Rangers then turned Morales around to the left side of the plate by bringing in righty Marcus Stroman. Stroman allowed a deep fly ball to Morales and it allowed Story and Brantley to both advance into scoring position. Again the Rangers went to the bullpen against switch hitting Chevy Clarke. The rookie Clarke had struck out in his first three plate appearances but not this time. He laced a line drive down the right field line scoring both Story and Brantley and was able to advance to second when the Rangers attempted to throw Brantley out at home. Fellow rookie Conrad Gregor then pinch hit for SS Ian Desmond and put a line drive single over the shortstop’s head and driving in Clarke. The rookies came through and tied the game 6 all heading into the 9th. Casey Janssen, the A’s closer, was brought in to keep the game tied in the top of the 9th. He was able to retired the first batter before allowing a single to Montero, hitting Singleton with a pitch and then Castellanos was able to reach on an error by SS Emilio Bonifacio who was just brought in to play for Ian Desmond. Janssen then esaceped from this bases loaded 1 out jam when Coyle grounded into a fielder choice, Montero was forced out at the plate, and then he struck out Arcia to end the threat. At this point it seemed all the air was let out of the Rangers as the A’s were able to go Hiroyuki Nakajima single, a failed sac bunt by Weeks, Story single and Brantley single to get to the Rangers closer Trevor Rosenthal and complete the comeback 7-6.
Oakland Player of the Game: 
Michael Brantley – 2 for 4 with 2 RBI, 1 BB and the game winning hit.
Injury Notes – Oakland catcher Carlos Santana injured his ankle when sliding into home plate in the 8th. He will miss approximately a week.
