JP Sears talks with the media after the Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers 9-4 on Wednesday. The Texas Rangers have eight reasons to be concerned about Shea Langelier’s play. After an incredible three-homer masterpiece in Arlington less than a month ago, the Athletics catcher created franchise history on Wednesday at the Coliseum by recording eight RBI in the A’s doubleheader against the Rangers. The 26-year-old catcher beat Reggie Jackson’s record for the most RBI (8) during a doubleheader in A’s history. Jackson is currently seventh in MLB in terms of home runs (9). When the stat line entered the locker room after Oakland’s 12-11 loss to the Rangers in the second game of the doubleheader—shortly after the A’s won the first game—the Texan was almost at a loss for words. Reporters were told by Langeliers, “That’s crazy.” “Today, I saw the ball pretty well. I felt that I hit nice pitches with strong swings. “It was one of those days where I performed well and helped the team score some runs batted in. Indeed, looking back on the day, it was a crazy one in which both offences really went after it. The first game of the doubleheader was won by the A’s 9-4 thanks to a three-run seventh inning. And Langeliers drove Oakland’s offence with a home run, a triple, and a double in a way that set records. With one more hit, the catcher would have become the first A’s player to hit for the cycle since Mark Ellis in 2007. After the doubleheader, A’s manager Mark Kotsay complimented Langeliers’ offensive development in an interview with reporters. After all, Langeliers’ 24 RBI in just 34 games this season pushed him over a third of the way to his total from the previous season (63). Shea was locked in the first game, Kotsay informed the media. It’s good that you brought up the offensive performance that day; obviously, it deserves recognition. Once more, we discuss Shea’s offensive game and his development extensively. It certainly seems to be showing, in my opinion. “He didn’t exactly have the best start to the year, but today’s performance shows that he has been believing in his hitting coach and the process for more than a month. I believe that the effects are already being felt. The A’s continue their upward trajectory, just like Langeliers. With a 6-4 record over their past ten games, Kotsay and company are now four games behind the Rangers, who lead the AL West. There’s no reason to think Langeliers’s supremacy over the Rangers will end.
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