A’s Starling Marte hits walk-off home run in 11th to beat Texas Rangers

Oakland Athletics vs. Texas Rangers: Starling Marte hits walk-off home run in 11th

OAKLAND — The A’s are reeling with news of Ramón Laureano’s 80-game suspension that came not 12 hours after word that longtime color commentator Ray Fosse would step back from his duties to get cancer treatment. Starling Marte gave the team something to smile about.

In the 11th inning, Marte hit a walk-off, three-run home run to seal the A’s 4-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Friday night. Not only did the win inch the A’s a bit closer in the American League West standings — with a Houston Astros loss to the Minnesota Twins, the A’s are now 3.5 games back for first place –but provided a bit of reassurance that they can come together in Laureano’s absence.

Marte came to Oakland as a rental capable of kicking a stale offense up another gear, and so far he’s delivered. His bunt single was one of the A’s two hits against Rangers right-handed starter Mike Foltynewicz. With two runners on in the 11th, Marte was just trying to find a pitch he could send up the middle for an easy RBI, instead Jimmy Herget left a 3-1 slider over the plate that he crushed 404 feet into left field for the win. It was the A’s second walk-off win in as many games following Matt Olson’s walk-off hit against the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

The A’s lead the American League with 10 walk-offs and Oakland is now 6-3 in extra-inning games.

In 30 at-bats with the A’s, Marte is batting .367 with three walks and two home runs along with four RBI and five stolen bases, an extension of a .432 average he’s put together since the All-Star break partly with the Miami Marlins.

Chris Bassitt entered the game leading the league with 11 wins and pitched well enough to get his 12th. He allowed one run in the sixth inning when Curtis Terry doubled to the left-center gap to start the inning and, with two outs, Isaiah Kiner-Falefa knocked an RBI single to tie the game 1-1. It was Kiner-Falefa’s third hit of the night. Catcher Sean Murphy caught him stealing third to end the inning.

But Bassitt departed the game without a lead and a chance at a win. He finished the night with eight strikeouts and that one earned run allowed on five hits and no walks with one run of support.

The A’s loaded the bases with no outs in the fourth inning, a situation the team’s struggled with of late. That trend continued with Mitch Moreland hitting into a double play, though scoring the A’s first run. The inning started off a Matt Olson double, which was the A’s first hit off Rangers starter Mike Foltynewicz until Starling Marte’s bunt single in the sixth inning.

With a scoreless inning on Friday, Sergio Romo extended his streak to 15 appearances without allowing a run, dating back to June 29. Opponents are 3-for-47 over that span. He hasn’t allowed a run in 24 of his last 27 games.

In extras, Andrew Chafin struck out two batters in an impressive 10th inning to strand the designated runner. Lou Trivino and Yusmeiro Petit pitched scoreless innings, too.