The Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers return to the field a day after tragedy struck in Arlington. On Thursday night, Josh Hamilton threw a ball into the stands and fan Shannon Stone tumbled twenty feet to the ground below while trying to catch the ball. The fan appeared to survive the fall at the time, but died en route to the hospital after suffering cardiac arrest.
Hamilton was understandably distraught after the game and there were questions as to whether he would play in Friday night’s game. Hamilton told manager Ron Washington that he wanted to be in the lineup for the game and so he is in the starting lineup. The A’s and Rangers will wear black ribbons for the rest of the series in memory of Stone and will fly flags at the stadium at half-staff.
Gio Gonzalez and C.J. Wilson in the second game of the series. Here are the starting lineups for each team:
Oakland Athletics
1. Jemile Weeks 2B
2. David DeJesus RF
3. Coco Crisp CF
4. Josh Willingham DH
5. Scott Sizemore 3B
6. Conor Jackson 1B
7. Ryan Sweeney LF
8. Kurt Suzuki C
9. Adam Rosales SS
Texas Rangers
1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Elvis Andrus SS
3. Josh Hamilton LF
4. Adrian Beltre DH
5. Michael Young 3B
6. Nelson Cruz RF
7. Mike Napoli 1B
8. Yorvit Torrealba C
9. Craig Gentry CF