Wyatt Langford and Adolis García hit home runs to lead the Texas Rangers to a 5-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics, spoiling the final scheduled night game at the Oakland Coliseum on Wednesday.
A lively crowd of 35,270 braved the chilly late-September evening, frequently chanting “Sell the team!” in protest against owner John Fisher. The A’s, who have called the Coliseum home since 1968, are set to relocate to Sacramento for at least the next three seasons as they await the completion of a new ballpark in Las Vegas.
Before the game, a tribute video to the Coliseum was shown on the big screen, and the grounds crew inscribed “Thank You Oakland” into the outfield grass for the final series. After the game, fireworks lit up the parking lot, while fans lingered in the stadium, reluctant to leave this iconic venue as music played.
Oakland manager Mark Kotsay and his wife Jamie walked hand in hand across the outfield, where Kotsay once played for the A’s. He waved to the remaining fans, tipped his cap, hugged the grounds crew, took photos, and signed autographs.
Security will be heightened for Thursday’s sold-out finale, though Kotsay didn’t feel the need to address the fans publicly. He believed the team’s performance on the field would best honor their loyal supporters.
Rangers manager Bruce Bochy, a longtime San Francisco Giants skipper, appreciated the nostalgia and significance of the moment.
“It’s going to be crazy out here, sold out,” Bochy said. “And tonight, you saw the noise and the banging of the drums. This is what I’m used to coming here. It’s a fun environment. I think the guys are enjoying it.”
A night earlier, the A´s won 5-4 on Jacob Wilson´s single in the ninth. Kotsay typically tears up the lineup card after each game and throws it away. After ripping this one, he thought twice about tossing it. Instead, he kept it – knowing it might the final victory in Oakland for his club.
He touched on how unique it is being part of the A’s, no matter whether as a fan, player, coach, manager or ballpark employee.