- Final0BAL
DET2
42
4 - Final1PIT
MIN17
617
6 - Final2TOR
HOU6
36
3 - Final3NYY
WSH8
58
5 - Finalin 8in 84ATL
PHI4
64
6 - Final5NYM
MIA1
31
3 - Final6PHI
TB6
66
6 - Final7STL
BOS9
69
6 - Final8CIN
LAA1
31
3 - Final9CHW
CLE3
123
12 - Finalin 8in 810SD
MIL4
64
6 - Final11OAK
TEX11
711
7 - Final12ARI
CHC12
212
2 - Final13KC
LAD8
58
5 - Finalin 8in 814CHC
COL5
75
7 - Final15SF
SEA7
57
5
SURPRISE, Ariz. -- Oakland manager Bob Melvin wasn't surprised by Jemile Weeks' power display.
Weeks homered from both sides of the plate, Cliff Pennington added four hits and Derek Norris capped a five-run ninth inning with a grand slam in the Oakland Athletics' 11-7 victory over the Texas Rangers."He stays within himself and he's got a little juice," Melvin said. "In certain counts, if you get the ball a little up he can take the ball out of the park."Weeks was surprised by how he hit the two homers."Off the top of my head, I'd have to say it's the first time," said Weeks said of homering from both sides of the plate. "It's definitely tough to do, not to say even getting an at bat from the other side."He homered from the right side leading off the game against Martin Perez and then homered from the left in the fourth off Neil Ramirez."It's a testament to my approach right now," said Weeks, who hit two home runs in 97 games and 406 at-bats last season. "I've been able in the past to power up on some balls out there, which might be surprising to everyone here."Weeks also flashed his speed, reaching on an infield single in the second, before walking and striking out in his final two plate appearances.Oakland trailed 7-6 entering the ninth but tied the game on an error before Norris' grand slam gave the Athletics their tenth win in 14 games."Winning's important," Melvin said. "I don't care if it's spring training, an intrasquad game or whatever. Winning matters. That's the environment we're trying to create here."Texas was without manager Ron Washington, who left the team following a death in the family. He's expected to return for the Rangers' weekend series in Las Vegas.Both starting pitchers struggled.Oakland's Brad Peacock lasted only 2 1/3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits and three walks with one strikeout and needing 61 pitches to get eight outs.Perez went two innings, giving up two runs on five hits and a pair of walks. The left-hander struck out three."Sometimes I just got in my head a little bit," Perez said. "You ask me what I need to do, and that's what I need to do. When I struggle I get a little overanxious and that's been my problem when I'm behind in the count. I tried to locate my pitches but I was a little desperate and anxious."Ian Kinsler homered in the fourth inning for the Rangers.Game notes
Rangers OF Josh Hamilton, who left Wednesday's game after jamming his right heel chasing down a double, returned to the lineup and went 0 for 3. Hamilton has three hits in 21 at-bats this spring. . A's CF Yoenis Cespedes went 1 for 4 with a strikeout. . Rangers C Mike Napoli missed his sixth straight game with a strained left groin muscle but resumed some catching activities.
Copyright by STATS LLC and The Associated Press
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Preseason Series
Scoring Summary
| OAK | TEX | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | J Weeks homered to left. | 1 | 0 | |
| 1st | N Cruz doubled to deep center, I Kinsler, A Beltre and M Young scored. | 1 | 3 | |
| 2nd | C Pennington singled to left, D Barton scored, J Weeks to second. | 2 | 3 | |
| 3rd | A Beltre singled to center, E Andrus scored. | 2 | 4 | |
| 3rd | D Murphy hit sacrifice fly to right, A Beltre scored. | 2 | 5 | |
| 4th | J Weeks homered to right. | 3 | 5 | |
| 4th | S Smith doubled to deep left, C Pennington scored. | 4 | 5 | |
| 4th | I Kinsler homered to left. | 4 | 6 | |
| 6th | A Recker homered to left. | 5 | 6 | |
| 6th | C Pennington doubled to deep right, J Weeks scored, C Pennington to third advancing on throw. | 6 | 6 | |
| 7th | B Snyder grounded out to pitcher, L Hernandez scored, L Martin to third. | 6 | 7 | |
| 9th | D Barton safe at first on error by first baseman B Hawpe, C Cowgill scored, E Sogard to third, M Taylor to second. | 7 | 7 | |
| 9th | D Norris homered to left, E Sogard, M Taylor and D Barton scored. | 11 | 7 | |
| View complete Play-By-Play | ||||
Game Information
| Stadium | Surprise Stadium, Surprise, AZ |
| Game Time | NA |
| Weather | 78 degrees, sunny |
| Wind | 5 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Stephen Barga, First Base - Doug Eddings, Third Base - Clint Fagan |
