Rangers 7, Athletics 3
Michael Young and David Murphy each drove in two runs and Josh Hamilton added three hits and an RBI to lift the Texas Rangers to a 7-3 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Friday in an American League West Division showdown.
The Rangers scored three runs in the first inning and added another three runs in the fourth and were able to hold off the A's. Texas increased its lead to 9 1/2 games over Oakland in the AL West standings.
Hamilton scored on an RBI single by Vladimir Guerrero and Murphy added a two-run double later in the first to stake the Rangers to a 3-0 lead. Young had a two-run double and Hamilton had an RBI single in the fourth to put Texas on top 7-0.
Tommy Hunter (11-2) picked up the win with a strong outing. Hunter allowed three runs and seven hits in 7 2/3 innings with two walks and four strikeouts.
Brett Anderson (3-5) yielded four runs, six hits and two walks in two innings to take the loss. Boof Bonser came on in relief of Anderson but could not hold down the Rangers as he allowed three runs and seven hits in four frames.
Kevin Kouzmanoff had a home run and two RBIs for the A's.