Marcus Semien drives in four as Rangers race past A's

Marcus Semien hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs as the Texas Rangers set the tone early and rolled to an 8-5 victory over the Athletics in the opener of a three-game series in West Sacramento, Calif.

Wyatt Langford had three hits to lead the Texas attack, with Adolis Garcia and Semien recording two hits each. Langford, Josh Smith and Jake Burger each socked a solo homer for the Rangers.

The Rangers were the only major league team not to have scored seven runs in a game this year, but they put that to rest by the fifth inning, when they took a 7-2 lead.

Texas starter Patrick Corbin (2-2) was the beneficiary. Corbin allowed two runs -- both of them on solo home runs -- on seven hits over five-plus innings. He had four strikeouts and two walks and was lifted in favor of Shawn Armstrong after giving up two hits to begin the sixth inning.

Luke Jackson pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his seventh save.

The Rangers roughed up Athletics starter Osvaldo Bido, chasing him after he surrendered eight runs on eight hits and three walks with two strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings.

Texas scored twice in the first inning, on Garcia's RBI double and Semien's sacrifice fly. The Athletics responded with a solo home run by Miguel Andujar in the second to pare the deficit to 2-1.

Langford hit a solo homer in the third. Lawrence Butler countered for the Athletics with his own solo round-tripper in the bottom of the frame.

The Rangers broke open the game in the fifth. Smith ripped a leadoff long ball. Seager and Garcia hit one-out singles before Semien's three-run shot made it 7-2. In the sixth, Burger clubbed a leadoff homer to stoke the advantage to 8-2.

Seager was pulled from the game in the sixth inning due to what the team announced to be right hamstring tightness.

The Athletics added a run in the seventh on JJ Bleday's popup single that brought home Brent Rooker. Luis Urias and Rooker added solo home runs in the eighth to tighten the score, but Texas was able to hold on.

--Field Level Media