The Rangers are 35-35

In a game featuring 22 runs, 31 hits, four errors, and a combined 343 pitches, the Rangers escaped O.co Coliseum with a 14-8 win on Monday night. It's their 4th win in as many chances at Oakland's home field in 2014.

The 14 runs ties a season-high for the Rangers; to get there, Donnie Murphy supplied two homers, Michael Choice and Robinson Chirinos added their 7th and 6th HRs, respectively, and every starter aside Shin-Soo Choo recorded at least one hit. In fact, six Texas starters had at least two hits, with Chirinos and Rougned Odor providing three apiece. It was a solid offensive performance tonight. 

Then... there was the pitching, which wasn't so pretty. Colby Lewis allowed 13 base runners -- 10 hits and 3 BBs -- in 5.1 innings on the bump, where he wound up exhausting 102 pitches (59 strikes). With an 11-4 lead in the bottom of the 6th, Ron Washington summoned the struggling Robbie Ross to get some work in. A walk and a Yoenis Cespedes 3-run HR later, and the game was 11-7, and it was actually a game again. 

With men on 1st and 2nd and only one out in the bottom of the 7th, the A's inched within 11-8, but Neal Cotts inevitably induced a popup and a strikeout, and Oakland didn't get a better chance the rest of the way. Texas tacked on a run in the 8th, and two more in the 9th, and that was it.

Tonight's game in Oakland was a microcosm of the 2014 season as we've come to understand it: Nothing comes easy. 

Tomorrow Yu Darvish squares off against Tommy Milone as the Rangers go for the series victory.