Rangers double up A's 10-5 in 1st game of split doubleheader

ARLINGTON, Texas -- Tim Federowicz had an immediate impact in his debut for the Texas Rangers -- both at the plate and behind it.

The newly acquired catcher homered in his first big league game this season and got two pitchers through their big league debuts as the Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 10-5 in the opener of a day-night doubleheader Saturday.

"That's always what we strive to do when we come up here. It was a good game," said Federowicz, who appeared in his 135th big league game, now with his sixth team since 2011.

"We knew the catching part. We knew the catch and throw and the command back there," manager Chris Woodward said. "With the bat, we didn't know what we were going to get, but the three-run home run and another hit was fantastic and a walk in his first at-bat. I'm sure he'll sleep well tonight."

Left-hander Joe Palumbo went four innings in his MLB debut after the 24-year-old right-hander drafted six years ago was recalled from Double-A Frisco.

Phillips Valdez finished it off with two scoreless innings after being added as the Rangers' 26th player for the doubleheader. The 27-year-old pitcher's first big league game came after 214 minor league appearances over 10 seasons.

Jeffrey Springs (4-1) allowed one run over three innings after Palumbo gave up four runs with four strikeouts and no walks.

Nomar Mazara also went deep for the Rangers, a two-run shot in the third inning after putting the Rangers ahead to stay with his sacrifice fly in the first.

Texas had a three-run first off Paul Blackburn (0-1), who was called up as Oakland's 26th player for the doubleheader after being in Triple-A Las Vegas all season. The right-hander gave up five runs in three innings.

Matt Olson and Josh Phegley homered for the A's. Phegley also had a two-run double, on the first pitch he faced in the fourth when taking over with a 2-2 count after catcher Nick Hundley left the game because of back spasms.

"A no-pressure at-bat," Phegley said. "You haven't seen any pitches all day. You just try to lock it in the best you can for one pitch. I feel like kind of the lack of expectations there, I just felt relaxed and put a good swing on the ball."

Federowicz was with Cleveland's Triple-A affiliate when he was acquired in a trade Friday and added to the Rangers roster after Isiah Kiner-Falefa was put on the 10-day injured list.

While Mazara hit his ninth homer of the season, Federowicz had his ninth career long ball and is still trying to get to know his new teammates.

"It's like spring training all over again, first day of spring training and learning everybody's faces," Federowicz said. "I know I'm going to introduce myself a couple of times to the same people. But I'm sorry, that's part of it."

LOT OF ACTION

The doubleheader was needed to make up for a game rained out on April 13. By the end of the series finale Sunday afternoon, the A's and Rangers will have played four games in a 48-hour span.

SHORT HOPS

Rangers SS Elvis Andrus had his first three-hit game since May 8 at Pittsburgh. ... Asdrubal Cabrera had a two-run single. He has 35 RBI this season for the Rangers, 29 of them in home games. ... Phegley became the first A's reserve with two extra-base hits in five years.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: Manager Bob Melvin said Hundley will be put on the injured list. "He's having a tough time right now," Melvin said. "His first at-bat he felt some spasms on his swing and then obviously in that next at-bat I took him out of the game." Catcher Beau Taylor was on his way to join the A's from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Rangers: Shin-Soo Choo had a hard time swinging Friday, when he missed his second game in a row since being hit on his left hand by a pitch Wednesday. He felt better Saturday when he was hitting before the game, and convinced manager Chris Woodward to let him play. Choo struck out three times, but also walked twice and scored both times.

UP NEXT

The second game of the doubleheader on Saturday night, when the Rangers retire the No. 29 jersey that was worn by third baseman Adrian Beltre in a pregame ceremony.

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