Athletics knocked out early by Rangers a day after absorbing late-inning gut punch

OAKLAND — The day after a gut-punch loss the Athletics had every reason to think they would win, the Texas Rangers removed any sense of drama before the game was three innings old.

The defending World Series champions pummeled the A’s 15-8, chasing starter Ross Stripling with a 10-run second inning that made the matinee suitable for sun worshippers among the crowd of 3,965 and little else.

Including Monday night’s 4-2 loss when Corey Seager hit a three-run homer off Lucas Erceg in the eighth...