Texas Rangers vs. Oakland Athletics – Results, Stats and Summary – September 25, 2024 Gametracker

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) Wyatt Langford and Adolis García each hit a home run to help the Texas Rangers to a 5-1 victory over the Athletics on Wednesday, the last scheduled night baseball game at the Oakland Coliseum.

On this chilly late September evening, a spirited crowd of 35,270 gathered and regularly chanted “Sell the team!” as a message to owner John Fisher. The A's have played at the Coliseum since 1968 and are scheduled to move to Sacramento for at least the next three seasons while they wait for a ballpark they hope to open in Las Vegas.

Before the game, a tribute video to the Coliseum was shown on the big screen and grounds personnel wrote “Thank You Oakland” into the outfield turf for the final series. After the game, fireworks were set off in the parking lot outside while fans stayed inside as long as possible with loud music – they just didn't want to leave this unique old gem of a venue.

Oakland manager Mark Kotsay and his wife, Jamie, strolled hand-in-hand to the outfield where he once roamed as a player for the A's, and the manager waved and tipped his hat to those still in attendance. He hugged members of the grounds crew, took photos and signed autographs.

Heightened security will be in place for the sold-out final on Thursday afternoon and Kotsay did not feel he needed to speak publicly to fans afterward, preferring to let the club's game honor the fans.

Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, the longtime captain in San Francisco, appreciated all the nostalgia.

“It's going to be crazy out here, sold out,” Bochy said. “And tonight you heard the noise and the drumming. That's what I'm used to here. It's a great atmosphere. I think the guys are having fun.”

The night before, the A's won 5-4 on Jacob Wilson's single in the ninth inning. Kotsay usually tears up the lineup card after each game and throws it away. After tearing it up, he thought twice about throwing it away. Instead, he kept it, knowing full well that this could be his club's last win in Oakland.

He emphasized how unique it is to be part of the A's, whether as a fan, player, coach, manager or stadium employee.

“Baseball is baseball, but cities are different. Every city has its own quirks,” Kotsay said. “Whether it's important or not isn't really the issue, it's whether you can embrace it and appreciate it, like everything in life. We all want to feel good and I think that's exactly what this city gives you: a sense of comfort.”

“Even though the fans have been angry about us leaving in recent years, there is a certain comfort level for them to play here. And knowing that we may be playing in front of 3,000 fans, but those 3,000 fans still come and are still passionate about it, makes the whole thing special.”

In another nod to Oakland, MC Hammer's “U Can't Touch This” was played between the Texas batters in the sixth inning.

Texas ran roughshod over Brady Basso (1-1), who allowed four hits and a walk before getting an out. Langford hit a two-run homer in the first and García added a two-run drive in the third.

Basso allowed five runs and six hits in three innings.

Matt Festa (6-1) took the win. He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings as a replacement for Rangers starter Cody Bradford.

Next

Rangers RHP Kumar Rocker (0-1, 2.57 ERA) starts in the series finale for the third time in his career against A's RHP JT Ginn (0-1, 4.40 ERA).

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