The Texas Rangers lead, 4-1, after forcing Oakland Athletics pitcher A.J. Griffin from the game in the top of the third inning.

Griffin had only allowed three baserunners (two walks, one single) to reach before the wheels started to come off at the start of the third.

Ian Kinsler began the inning with a leadoff single and Adrian Beltre sent him home with a single of his own three batters later. Then Rangers then proceeded to score three more runs all with two outs off a Michael Young RBI double, a David Murphy two-RBI single and a Geovany Soto RBI single.

Evan Scribner replaced Griffin and forced a ground out from Kinsler for the third out after the Rangers had gone through their entire lineup. Scribner also pitched another scoreless inning for Oakland with the game now in the bottom of the fourth.

Texas starter Ryan Dempster has allowed three hits and one earned run (off a Brandon Moss RBI double) with three strikeouts, through the first three innings.