Rangers 4, Athletics 3
Rangers 4, Athletics 3: Ian Kinsler delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning and host Texas threw out the potential tying run at home plate to end it and take three of four from American League West-leading Oakland.
Rangers closer Joe Nathan got the first two outs in the ninth before Josh Donaldson singled and Seth Smith followed with a liner that fell in and bounced away from center fielder Craig Gentry. Donaldson, who was running on the pitch, tried to score all the way from first but the relay and a great stop at home by catcher A.J. Pierzynski cut him down.
Geovany Soto had a solo homer and Josh Lindblom allowed two runs in five innings in his fourth career start as Texas pulled to within one game of the Athletics in the division. Tanner Scheppers (5-0) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief to pick up the win and Nathan recorded his 22nd save.
Jed Lowrie had three hits, including an RBI single to begin the scoring in the top of the fifth, and scored on shortstop Elvis Andrus' error in the seventh to give Oakland a short-lived 3-2 lead. Texas loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half for Kinsler, who smacked a 3-2 offering from Sean Doolittle (3-2) into center field to plate the decisive runs.
The Athletics had runners in scoring position but failed to score in each of the first four innings and got just one run out of a bases-loaded, no-out situation in the sixth. Yoenis Cespedes was thrown out trying to score on a grounder in the seventh, Lowrie hit into a double play to end the eighth and Donaldson's dash went for naught.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Kinsler also recorded his 161st stolen base, which ties him with Bump Wills for the franchise record. ... Rangers RF Nelson Cruz made a nice leaping grab against the wall with a man on in the top of the eighth to help Scheppers survive a leadoff walk. ... A clogged pipe was blamed for a sewage backup at Oakland's home stadium, O.co Coliseum, which forced players to race from overflowing shower drains following a game Sunday between the Athletics and Seattle.