A’s Sean Manaea gets his 1st win, 3-1 over Rangers
[...] last week, to exorcise the memory of an eight-run shellacking in Boston, the A’s prized left-hander cut his flowing black mane.
In his fourth career start, Manaea reclaimed the velocity and command that made him the 34th overall pick in the draft three years ago.
Over 62/3 innings, the 24-year-old rookie allowed just one run on four hits and a walk.
Less than two weeks removed from getting tagged for 11 runs in Toronto, Holland pounded the strike zone and got ahead in counts against the A’s.
Holland then walked third baseman Danny Valencia to load the bases.
Designated hitter Khris Davis hammered a sacrifice fly to right field and, moments later, first baseman Billy Butler hit an RBI single up the middle.
In the top of the seventh, Manaea allowed back-to-back singles before Drew Stubbs’ sacrifice fly gave Texas its first and only run.
Oakland’s bullpen trio of Sean Doolittle, John Axford and Ryan Madson, given extra insurance by Semien’s 10th home run, wrapped up the victory.
In his next bullpen session, he tried to sharpen the movement on his slider and keep his fastball toward the edges of the plate.