A’s manager Bob Melvin said Jeffries “was probably a little amped up. The homers were changeups, probably a little higher velocity than he normally throws. First inning can be tough regardless, and then in your first start, get a couple guys out and you have to look at a three-run homer, it can get you nervous.”

Jefferies (0-1), a 25-year-old right-hander who had never pitched above the Double-A level, was called up to be the 29th player for the A’s in the doubleheader. He threw 53 pitches over two innings, allowing the five runs on five hits, with one strikeout and two walks.

Jordan Weems pitched three no-hit innings with five strikeouts after replacing Jefferies.

“It was terrific. We needed that,” Melvin said.

In between games, the Rangers put shortstop Andrus on the injured list with a back strain for the second time this year after he went 1-for-3. Manager Chris Woodward said Andrus was probably done for the season. Texas brought Sherten Apostel up from its alternate site, and he started at third base in the nightcap to make his big league debut.

The teams played a doubleheader to make up for the game postponed Aug. 27 when the A’s decided not to play the finale of a scheduled four-game series to support calls for racial justice.