WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Zack Gelof and Lawrence Butler each hit two-run homers, Tommy White had his first major league homer and the Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 5-2 on Sunday.
The A’s won their first home series since June 12-14 in Las Vegas, and first series in West Sacramento since April 28-30. They were 0-12-1 over the previous 13 series at their current home ballpark.
The Athletics plan to move to Las Vegas in 2028, when they are scheduled to open play at a new ballpark on the Strip.
Jacob Lopez (6-4) struck out six and gave up two runs on five hits in six innings for his first win in his past four starts, after getting no-decisions in his previous three.
After Jake Burger hit a solo home run in the second to put the Rangers ahead, Butler responded with a 394-footer that wrapped around the right-field pole to give the A’s the lead.
Burger drove in a second run for Texas on a forceout in the third. He finished 3 for 4.
Shortstop Jacob Wilson nearly had his major league-record errorless streak end at 114 games in the fourth after he misplayed a grounder, but the play was scored as a single.
Gelof put the A’s back in front in the seventh, hitting a 403-foot homer off Jakob Junis (1-2) into the Rangers bullpen in right-center. White hit the first of his career in the eighth to give the A’s a three-run cushion.
White, a 2024 second-round pick, debuted on July 17 and was the A’s 10th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline.
Hogan Harris locked down the ninth with two strikeouts for his 12th save.
Soderstrom to IL
The Athletics lost another slugger when they placed outfielder Tyler Soderstrom on the 10-day injured list with a left hip impingement.
The 24-year-old Soderstrom is batting .245 with 19 homers and 56 RBIs in 109 games this season. He set career highs with 25 homers, 93 RBIs and a .276 batting average in 158 games last year.
The Athletics already were playing without first baseman Nick Kurtz and catcher Shea Langeliers. Kurtz is on the IL with a right thumb injury that could sideline him for the rest of the year. Langeliers had season-ending surgery on his right knee last month.
Also Sunday, the A’s claimed left-hander Joe Rock off waivers from the Chicago White Sox and optioned him to Triple-A Las Vegas. Infielder Darell Hernaiz was recalled from the Aviators, and right-hander Justin Sterner was transferred to the 60-day IL.
