ARLINGTON (Interstat) — The Athletics held on for a 2-1 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday afternoon at Globe Life Park, relying on an early two-run burst and a strong bullpen performance to split the four-game series.

The Athletics struck in the first inning against Texas starter Kumar Rocker. After Nick Kurtz struck out and Shea Langeliers grounded out, Tyler Soderstrom drew a walk. Brent Rooker walked as well, bringing up Carlos Cortes. Cortes tripled on a line drive to center field, driving in Soderstrom and Rooker for a 2-0 lead. That proved to be all the offense needed.

Rocker settled in after that, working six innings and allowing only six hits while striking out three. He gave up the two runs on that triple but did not allow another score. Texas starter J.T. Ginn matched him early, allowing three hits over 3 1-3 innings with two strikeouts and no earned runs. Ginn, who entered the game with a 2-0 record in his previous two starts — including a win over the Rangers on April 15 — worked efficiently, but was pulled after 3 1-3 innings as the Athletics used a committee of relievers.

The Rangers finally broke through in the sixth inning. With one out, Josh Jung doubled to left field. Evan Carter then attempted a sacrifice bunt, but a throwing error by Athletics pitcher Jacob Lopez allowed Jung to score, cutting the lead to 2-1. Carter advanced to first on the error. Jake Burger walked, and Josh Smith singled on a soft bunt to load the bases. But the Athletics escaped further damage as Danny Jansen struck out, Sam Haggerty struck out, and Brandon Nimmo lined out to center field.

Oakland’s bullpen took control from there. Justin Sterner earned the win, pitching a scoreless sixth inning with one hit allowed and two strikeouts. Sterner, now 1-2 on the season, was followed by Hogan Harris, who threw a perfect seventh with a strikeout. Joel Kuhnel tossed two-thirds of an inning in the eighth, allowing no hits and striking out one. Jack Perkins closed the game with a two-inning save, his second of the season. Perkins allowed just one hit and struck out three, retiring the side in order in the ninth.

The Athletics’ offense managed 10 hits but could not extend the lead after the first inning. Cortes went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, including the pivotal triple. Shea Langeliers had two hits, and Tyler Soderstrom doubled and walked twice. The Rangers managed only six hits, with Josh Jung collecting two doubles. Brandon Nimmo had a single but was stranded.

The game was decided by the early two-run outburst and the Athletics’ ability to hold off Texas’s lone threat. The most important sequence came in the bottom of the sixth, when the Rangers loaded the bases with one out after Jung’s double and the error. But Oakland’s bullpen induced three consecutive outs — two strikeouts and a lineout — to preserve the 2-1 lead.

Kumar Rocker took the loss, falling to 1-2 despite a solid outing. He allowed two earned runs on six hits over six innings, with three strikeouts and two walks. For Texas, Peyton Gray pitched a scoreless eighth, giving up one hit and striking out one. Tyler Alexander worked a hitless ninth, allowing two hits but no runs. Gavin Collyer also threw a scoreless inning with one hit allowed.

The Athletics improved to 15-13 with the win, while Texas dropped to 14-14. The series split was indicative of the recent rivalry: in the previous six meetings entering Sunday, each team had won three, with taking a 6-5 victory on April 15 and Texas winning 9-6 on April 16. The Rangers had won Saturday’s game 4-3, but bounced back Sunday.

Oakland’s next game is Tuesday against the Kansas City Royals at home, while Texas will host the New York Yankees on Monday. The Athletics will also face the Cleveland Guardians in a weekend series before a road trip to Philadelphia and Baltimore. The Rangers travel to Detroit for a series starting May 1, followed by a road trip to New York and a home series against the Chicago Cubs.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Athletics 6, Rangers 3, and the ELO system gave Texas a 57 percent probability to win. entered as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus 1.5 runs. The total score of 3 went over the over/under line of 8.5.