OAKLAND, Calif., April 4 (UPI) -- An RBI single by Scott Hatteberg ignited a three-run eighth inning Wednesday night
as the Oakland Athletics blew an early lead before rallying for a 9-6 win over the Texas Rangers.
Oakland lost offensive stars Jason Giambi and Johnny Damon in the offseason and is playing without cleanup hitter Jermaine Dye, who is sidelined with a leg injury. But the A's
have been able to compensate with a balanced attack.
On Wednesday, Miguel Tejada drove in three runs and David Justice and Eric Chavez drove in two apiece. But it was Hatteberg, Dye's fill-in, who delivered the biggest hit, a
single to right field off Dan Miceli that snapped a tie.
Jim Mecir (1-0) tossed a scoreless eighth inning and Billy Koch worked a hitless ninth to earn his first save with Oakland.
Rich Rodriguez (0-1) was charged with all three runs in the eighth for Texas, which is 0-3 for the first time since 1991.
