Athletics 9, Rangers 3
Derek Norris and Josh Reddick drove in three runs apiece as visiting Oakland made it two straight over Texas while snapping Martin Perez's 26-inning scoreless streak.
Scott Kazmir (4-0) continued the best start of his career - allowing three runs and seven hits in five innings - as Oakland improved its American League-best road record to 11-4. Alberto Callaspo and Brandon Moss also drove in runs, Yoenis Cespedes scored three times while Norris, Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie had two hits apiece.
Perez (4-1), who was coming off back-to-back three hitters, yielded eight runs, eight hits and three walks in 4 2/3 innings as his ERA more than doubled from 1.42 to 2.95. Alex Rios, Elvis Andrus and Prince Fielder drove in runs for the Rangers, who have lost three straight games for the first time this season.
Crisp led off the game with a double to left and, after Cespedes walked with two out, Norris drove them in with a double to left-center. Craig Gentry led off the second with a triple and scored on Reddick's groundout, and Norris delivered another two-out double to left-center in the third to score Cespedes and make it 4-0.
Oakland blew it open with five runs in the fifth to take a 9-1 lead. Perez walked Callaspo with the bases loaded and was relieved by Jason Frasor, who walked pinch hitter Moss before yielding a two-run single on the next pitch to Reddick and a wild pitch which allowed Moss to score.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Cespedes (hamstring) reached base all three times with a hit and two walks after missing four games while Texas' Shin-Soo Choo (ankle), limited to one pinch-hitting role since leaving the April 21 contest in Oakland, reached base all four times with a hit, two walks and a hit batsman while scoring a run. Both outfielders served as the designated hitter. ... Josh Donaldson, the only Athletic to start all 27 games, has reached base safely in 22 consecutive contests after he doubled and scored in the fifth. ... Rangers 2B Donnie Murphy (foot) did not play after leaving Monday's game and remains day-to-day.