MLB Recap · April 16, 2026

Texas Rangers at Athletics: Final Score & Recap

TEX9
Final
ATH6

Line Score

Team123456789RHE
TEX0010112049100
ATH0000300306131

The Story

The Texas Rangers defeated the Oakland Athletics 9-6 at Sutter Health Park on April 16, 2026, in a game that shifted dramatically across its final innings. The DiamondIQ model opened with a 54 percent home win probability for the Athletics, but the Rangers methodically chipped away before seizing control late. Texas scored in the third, fifth, sixth, and seventh innings, while Oakland responded with a three-run fifth of its own to keep the game competitive through the middle frames.

The decisive moments clustered in the eighth and ninth innings, producing the game's largest win-probability swings. Nick Kurtz delivered a two-out double off Jacob Latz in the bottom of the eighth that shifted win probability by 48.6 percent in Oakland's favor, momentarily making the Athletics the heavy favorite. That swing, however, proved short-lived. In the top of the ninth, Kyle Higashioka's fielders choice off Justin Sterner moved the needle 44.4 percent back toward Texas, anchoring a four-run Rangers frame that effectively closed the door. Josh Jung's home run off Scott Barlow in the seventh, worth 27.6 percent in win-probability added, had earlier provided meaningful separation, and Josh Smith's double off Luis Medina in the sixth contributed an additional 15.2 percent swing for Texas.

Kurtz finished as the game's top performer by WPA at plus-52.0 percent with a plus-2.4 RE24, though the Athletics could not convert his production into a victory. Jung posted plus-38.6 percent WPA and plus-1.9 RE24 for Texas, while Higashioka contributed plus-36.8 percent WPA despite his modest plus-1.0 RE24. On the mound, Jakob Junis led Rangers relievers with a plus-4.0 percent WPA, supported by Jack Perkins and Robert Garcia each at plus-3.4 percent. The DiamondIQ model's estimate closed at zero percent for Oakland, reflecting the Rangers' decisive four-run ninth.

Analysis generated by DiamondIQ's model.

Win Probability

755025TEX bats firstFinalATH win %TEX win %
DiamondIQ model home win probability across the game (pre-game 54% → final 0%).

Biggest Plays by Win-Probability Added

Nick Kurtz Double
Bot 8th · off Jacob Latz
+48.6%
Kyle Higashioka Fielders Choice
Top 9th · off Justin Sterner
+44.4%
Josh Jung Home Run
Top 7th · off Scott Barlow
+27.6%
Jacob Wilson Single
Bot 5th · off Jack Leiter
+20.7%
Josh Smith Double
Top 6th · off Luis Medina
+15.2%

Top Batters by WPA

Nick Kurtz+52.0%+2.4 RE24
Josh Jung+38.6%+1.9 RE24
Kyle Higashioka+36.8%+1.0 RE24

Top Pitchers by WPA

Full box score, pitch data, and the play-by-play timeline
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