Pratt's Instant Replay: Rangers 7, A's 2

BOX SCORE

For the third straight night the A's got off to a promising start before falling apart. This time it was two fifth-inning errors that did them in against the division-leading Rangers. Texas defeated the A's 7-2, it is the first game the A's have lost by more than one run in their last eight losses. Starting Pitching ReportTommy Milone pitched much better than the score indicates. He lasted five innings allowing six runs, only one of them earned. He struck out a career-high six hitters. The young lefty fell victim to shoddy defense in a big fifth inning for the Rangers. Texas plated five runs, three coming on a Josh Hamilton homer after the A's committed two errors. Giving the top-hitting team in baseball extra outs is a recipe for disaster, and it burned the A's on Saturday. The Rangers' other two runs in the fifth came on a two-run single by Ian Kinsler. He struck out looking in his first two at-bats.At the PlateChris Carter stayed hot since being called up to the A's on Friday. The right-handed slugger is 3-for-7 with two homers, three runs and two RBIs in his last two games. Carter was a factor in the A's only two runs. He homered in the second inning, then hit a two-out double in the fourth inning, and came around to score on a single by Brandon Inge. Inge now has 34 RBIs in 40 games with the A's. Yoenis Cespedes lead off with a double to right field in the sixth inning, but the A's failed to score. Cespedes is 6-for-12 in the series with three RBIs and one walk. Bullpen ReportBrian Fuentes made his first appearance since June 23. He pitched a scoreless sixth inning, but was charged with a run in the seventh after he remained in the game and gave up two hits before departing. The run scored when Jordan Norberto gave up an RBI single to Hamilton. Norberto finished the night with 1.2 innings pitched, allowing two hits and striking out one batter. In the FieldIn the fourth inning, Elvis Andrus lead off with a double. He attempted to steal third but Kurt Suzuki gunned him down with a perfect strike to Inge at third. Inge committed his second error in as many nights, allowing Nelson Cruz to reach base to start the bottom of the fifth. Cruz was caught in a rundown when Yorvit Torrealba grounded into a fielder's choice. The next batter Craig Gentry hit a line drive that Brandon Hicks made a leaping catch on. He had to use every last inch of his 6'2" frame to catch the ball. Hicks later made an error bobbling a ball that would have ended the inning. That preceded the Hamilton home run. Up NextOn Sunday Travis Blackley (1-2, 3.05 ERA) takes on Yu Darvish (10-4, 3.57 ERA). Darvish is tied for the A.L. lead with 10 wins, but struggled in his last start against the A's. He is 1-1 with a 4.85 ERA in three starts against Oakland. Blackley has pitched well over his last three starts, but left his previous start in Seattle after seven innings with back tightness.