ARLINGTON, Texas _ Welcome to Arlington Danny Santana.
Santana, who was called up from Triple-A Nashville, tied Sunday's game with a two-run, pinch-hit, triple in the eighth inning and Delino DeShields laid down a perfectly-executed squeeze bunt that scored the go-ahead run as the Texas Rangers rallied from a five-run deficit to beat the Oakland Athletics 8-7.
It was Santana's first at-bat in the majors since he was with the Braves last July. Closer Jose Leclerc pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.
For much of the game Sunday afternoon at Globe Life Park, the A's were doing the bullying.
Adrian Sampson's first start of the season after two excellent long relief outings was a struggle. Sampson, who has been tasked with filling Edinson Volquez's spot in the rotation, was knocked from the game after four innings. He was charged with seven runs on eight hits, including two solo home runs. He threw 78 pitches in the four innings. The A's scored a run in each of the first three innings and then blew it open with four runs in the fourth to take a 7-2 lead.
Solo homers from Stephen Piscotty in the second and Matt Chapman in the third helped Oakland take a 3-2 lead. With two outs in the fourth, Jurickson Profar walked before the A's put together four consecutive hits, including the back-breaker, a two-run double by Marcus Semien.
The Rangers' offense, meanwhile, was held in check by A's left-hander Brett Anderson after scoring twice in the first inning. Elvis Andrus tripled in Delino DeShields and Andrus stole home on a Anderson's throw to first.
The bullpen held Oakland scoreless the final five innings, including two innings from Jeanmar Gomez, who allowed a hit and struck out three.
Texas tacked on runs in the fifth and seventh to pull to within three, including Andrus' third homer this season. Anderson held the Rangers to three runs (two earned) on two hits and two walks in six innings. All four of the Rangers' hits came from the top of the order.
The bottom half of the order was hitless until Asdrubal Cabrera singled in a run in the eighth to pull Texas to within 7-5. That set up Santana, who was pinch-hitting for Patrick Wisdom. After Santana's triple, Jeff Mathis popped up to third for the second out.
DeShields, however, laid down the squeeze bunt towards third and catcher Josh Phegley's throw to first was late, allowing Santana to score the go-ahead run.
