Jeff McNeil goes 4 for 5 as the Athletics beat the Rangers 8-3

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Jeff McNeil was 4 for 5 with three RBIs including the go-ahead home run as the Athletics snapped a three-game slide with an 8-3 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night.

Lawrence Butler also went deep for the Athletics, who have lost 12 of their last 15 games.

A hit batter, a single, and a walk loaded the bases for Carlos Cortes in the first inning, and he drove a 1-2 slider from Kumar Rocker to right that emptied the bases and gave the Athletics a 3-0 lead.

It took until the sixth inning for the Rangers to respond. Jake Burger worked the count full and hit a 428-foot, three-run homer to left-center that tied the game and ended Gage Jump’s start for the A’s.

Jump threw 5 1/3 innings and allowed three runs on three hits while walking four and striking out one.

McNeil got the A’s back in front with a 400-foot homer, his fifth of the season. It was a home run in every MLB ballpark, per Statcast.

Butler tacked on a 411-footer in the seventh to double the Athletics’ lead, and three more came across in the eighth.

Four relievers combined to give up one hit 3 2/3 innings, including Luis Medina (3-3) who earned the win.

Texas was held to four hits, and were 1 for 5 with runners in scoring position. Chase Silseth (3-3) took the loss after allowing one run in one inning.

Up next

Rangers LHP Mackenzie Gore (6-9, 4.43 ERA) starts opposite A’s RHP J.T. Ginn (8-6, 3.41) as the series continues on Saturday.

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See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Jeff McNeil goes 4 for 5 as the Athletics beat the Rangers 8-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Athletics pitcher Gage Jump throws to the Texas Rangers during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Jeff McNeil goes 4 for 5 as the Athletics beat the Rangers 8-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Athletics’ Carlos Cortes runs after hitting a three-RBI double during the first inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Jeff McNeil goes 4 for 5 as the Athletics beat the Rangers 8-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Texas Rangers’ Jake Burger runs the bases after hitting a three-run home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)
Jeff McNeil goes 4 for 5 as the Athletics beat the Rangers 8-3 | iNFOnews.ca
Athletics’ Lawrence Butler runs the bases after hitting a home run during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in West Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Sara Nevis)

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