AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: F Francisco relieved J Wright. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4 OAKLAND 0 BOTTOM, 8TH DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K Suzuki (.259, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 4 8 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 (TOP 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - FRANK FRANCISCO OAK - ANDREW BROWN DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B WILKERSON (.218, 0-FOR-3) J HAIRSTON JR (.207, 1-FOR-3, 2 RBI) T METCALF (.183, 1-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS (4) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg K Lofton cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 0 .305 M Young ss 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .280 M Teixeira 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 .307 S Sosa dh 2 2 1 0 2 1 2 .246 M Byrd rf 4 0 1 2 0 3 4 .369 G Laird c 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .229 B Wilkerson lf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .218 J Hairston Jr 2b 3 0 1 2 0 0 0 .207 T Metcalf 3b 3 0 1 0 0 1 1 .183 Totals 29 4 8 4 3 8 13 BATTING: 2B - M Young (23, D Braden); J Hairston Jr (7, D Braden); S Sosa (18, D Braden); M Byrd (10, D Braden). S - K Lofton. RBI - J Hairston Jr 2 (12), M Byrd 2 (28). 2-out RBI - J Hairston Jr 2, M Byrd 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1, G Laird 1, T Metcalf 1. Team LOB - 5. BASERUNNING: SB - J Hairston Jr (3, 3rd base off D Braden/K Suzuki). FIELDING: DP: 2 (J Hairston Jr-M Young-M Teixeira, M Young-J Hairston Jr-M Teixeira). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck rf 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .277 S Stewart lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .302 N Swisher 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .256 J Cust dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .259 B Crosby ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .221 M Kotsay cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .232 M Ellis 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .259 M Scutaro 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .236 K Suzuki c 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .250 Totals 26 0 4 0 4 3 15 BATTING: 2B - T Buck (12, J Wright); M Ellis (16, J Wright). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Scutaro 3, J Cust 1. GIDP - J Cust, N Swisher. Team LOB - 6. FIELDING: Outfield assists - S Stewart (T Metcalf at 2nd base), M Kotsay (S Sosa at 2nd base). DP: 2 (S Stewart-M Ellis, M Kotsay-M Ellis). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 000 220 00 -- 4 OAKLAND - 000 000 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Wright 7 4 0 0 3 2 0 4.31 F Francisco 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.08 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 6 8 4 4 2 7 0 6.07 A Brown 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 WP - J Wright. Pitches-strikes: J Wright 90-50; F Francisco 16-8; D Braden 107-72; A Brown 24-14. Ground balls-fly balls: J Wright 11-8; F Francisco 0-2; D Braden 2-8; A Brown 3-1. Batters faced: J Wright 26; F Francisco 4; D Braden 27; A Brown 6. UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Ed Montague. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Bill Miller. Weather: 63 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - PITCHING CHANGE OAK: KIKO CALERO (1-4, 6.67) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B WILKERSON (.218, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: K Calero relieved A Brown. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR TEXAS: B Wilkerson (.218, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 9 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 (BOT 9) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - FRANK FRANCISCO OAK - KIKO CALERO DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.259, 1-FOR-3) B CROSBY (.221, 0-FOR-2, BB) M KOTSAY (.232, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS (4) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 9TH - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg K Lofton cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .304 M Young ss 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .280 M Teixeira 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 .307 S Sosa dh 2 2 1 0 2 1 2 .246 M Byrd rf 4 0 1 2 0 3 4 .369 G Laird c 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .229 B Wilkerson lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .216 J Hairston Jr 2b 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 .205 T Metcalf 3b 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .197 Totals 33 4 9 4 3 8 14 BATTING: 2B - M Young (23, D Braden); J Hairston Jr (7, D Braden); S Sosa (18, D Braden); M Byrd (10, D Braden). S - K Lofton. RBI - J Hairston Jr 2 (12), M Byrd 2 (28). 2-out RBI - J Hairston Jr 2, M Byrd 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1, G Laird 1, T Metcalf 1. Team LOB - 6. BASERUNNING: SB - J Hairston Jr (3, 3rd base off D Braden/K Suzuki). FIELDING: DP: 2 (J Hairston Jr-M Young-M Teixeira, M Young-J Hairston Jr-M Teixeira). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck rf 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .277 S Stewart lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .302 N Swisher 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .256 J Cust dh 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .259 B Crosby ss 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 .221 M Kotsay cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .232 M Ellis 2b 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 .259 M Scutaro 3b 3 0 0 0 0 1 3 .236 K Suzuki c 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 .250 Totals 26 0 4 0 4 3 15 BATTING: 2B - T Buck (12, J Wright); M Ellis (16, J Wright). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Scutaro 3, J Cust 1. GIDP - J Cust, N Swisher. Team LOB - 6. FIELDING: Outfield assists - S Stewart (T Metcalf at 2nd base), M Kotsay (S Sosa at 2nd base). DP: 2 (S Stewart-M Ellis, M Kotsay-M Ellis). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 000 220 000 -- 4 OAKLAND - 000 000 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Wright 7 4 0 0 3 2 0 4.31 F Francisco 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 4.08 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 6 8 4 4 2 7 0 6.07 A Brown 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 K Calero 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 6.43 WP - J Wright. Pitches-strikes: J Wright 90-50; F Francisco 16-8; D Braden 107-72; A Brown 24-14; K Calero 18-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Wright 11-8; F Francisco 0-2; D Braden 2-8; A Brown 3-1; K Calero 2-1. Batters faced: J Wright 26; F Francisco 4; D Braden 27; A Brown 6; K Calero 4. UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Ed Montague. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Bill Miller. Weather: 63 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - PITCHING CHANGE TEX: ERIC GAGNE (2-0, 1.27) IN THE 9TH SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, B CROSBY ON FIRST, J CUST ON SECOND, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0 DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M KOTSAY (.232, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: E Gagne relieved F Francisco. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, B CROSBY ON FIRST, J CUST ON SECOND, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4 OAKLAND 0 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M Kotsay (.232, 0-FOR-3)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MARCO SCUTARO SCORED JACK CUST. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M SCUTARO ON SECOND, B CROSBY ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4 OAKLAND 1 BOTTOM, 9TH DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K SUZUKI (.250, 0-FOR-2, BB)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 9 1 OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - JAMEY WRIGHT, FRANK FRANCISCO (8TH), ERIC GAGNE (9TH) AND GERALD LAIRD OAK - DALLAS BRADEN, ANDREW BROWN (7TH), KIKO CALERO (9TH) AND KURT SUZUKI HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE OAK - NONE</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 2 2 0 0 0 0 4 9 1 OAKLAND 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 0 (FINAL) BATTERIES: TEX - JAMEY WRIGHT, FRANK FRANCISCO (8TH), ERIC GAGNE (9TH) AND GERALD LAIRD OAK - DALLAS BRADEN, ANDREW BROWN (7TH), KIKO CALERO (9TH) AND KURT SUZUKI WP - JAMEY WRIGHT (3-2) LP - DALLAS BRADEN (1-4) SAVE - ERIC GAGNE (14) HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE OAK - NONE TIME: 2:51 ATT: 18,160 PROBABLES: TEX - ROBINSON TEJEDA (5-8, 6.70) OAK - CHAD GAUDIN (8-4, 3.18)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS (4) VS OAKLAND (1) - FINAL TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg K Lofton cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .304 M Young ss 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 .280 M Teixeira 1b 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 .307 S Sosa dh 2 2 1 0 2 1 2 .246 M Byrd rf 4 0 1 2 0 3 4 .369 G Laird c 4 1 1 0 0 0 2 .229 B Wilkerson lf 4 0 0 0 0 1 2 .216 J Hairston Jr 2b 4 0 1 2 0 0 0 .205 T Metcalf 3b 4 0 2 0 0 1 1 .197 Totals 33 4 9 4 3 8 14 BATTING: 2B - M Young (23, D Braden); J Hairston Jr (7, D Braden); S Sosa (18, D Braden); M Byrd (10, D Braden). S - K Lofton. RBI - J Hairston Jr 2 (12), M Byrd 2 (28). 2-out RBI - J Hairston Jr 2, M Byrd 2. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1, G Laird 1, T Metcalf 1. Team LOB - 6. BASERUNNING: SB - J Hairston Jr (3, 3rd base off D Braden/K Suzuki). FIELDING: E - B Wilkerson (4, bobble). DP: 2 (J Hairston Jr-M Young-M Teixeira, M Young-J Hairston Jr-M Teixeira). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck rf 2 0 1 0 2 0 0 .277 S Stewart lf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .302 N Swisher 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 4 .256 J Cust dh 3 1 1 0 1 0 2 .259 B Crosby ss 3 0 1 0 1 0 0 .223 M Kotsay cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 .230 M Ellis 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 4 .258 M Scutaro 3b 4 0 1 1 0 1 3 .242 K Suzuki c 3 0 0 0 1 2 2 .241 Totals 31 1 6 1 5 4 21 BATTING: 2B - T Buck (12, J Wright); M Ellis (16, J Wright). RBI - M Scutaro (13). 2-out RBI - M Scutaro. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Scutaro 3, J Cust 1, K Suzuki 2. GIDP - J Cust, N Swisher. Team LOB - 8. FIELDING: Outfield assists - S Stewart (T Metcalf at 2nd base), M Kotsay (S Sosa at 2nd base). DP: 2 (S Stewart-M Ellis, M Kotsay-M Ellis). ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 000 220 000 -- 4 OAKLAND - 000 000 001 -- 1 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Wright (W, 3-2) 7 4 0 0 3 2 0 4.31 F Francisco 1 1 1 1 2 1 0 4.33 E Gagne (S, 14) 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 1.23 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden (L, 1-4) 6 8 4 4 2 7 0 6.07 A Brown 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 0.00 K Calero 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 6.43 F Francisco pitched to 2 batters in the 9th. WP - J Wright. Pitches-strikes: J Wright 90-50; F Francisco 30-15; E Gagne 23-16; D Braden 107-72; A Brown 24-14; K Calero 18-11. Ground balls-fly balls: J Wright 11-8; F Francisco 0-2; E Gagne 0-2; D Braden 2-8; A Brown 3-1; K Calero 2-1. Batters faced: J Wright 26; F Francisco 6; E Gagne 4; D Braden 27; A Brown 6; K Calero 4. UMPIRES: HP--Marvin Hudson. 1B--Ed Montague. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Bill Miller. T--2:51. Att--18,160. Weather: 63 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 21 mph, in from right.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (4) AT OAKLAND (1) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS 4TH: S Sosa walked. M Byrd struck out swinging. G Laird singled to center, S Sosa to second. B Wilkerson struck out looking. J Hairston Jr doubled to deep left center, S Sosa and G Laird scored. J Hairston Jr stole third. T Metcalf flied out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 5TH: K Lofton flied out to center. M Young struck out looking. M Teixeira singled to center. S Sosa doubled to deep right, M Teixeira to third. M Byrd doubled to left, M Teixeira and S Sosa scored. G Laird grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 9TH: J Cust walked. B Crosby singled to left, J Cust to second. E Gagne relieved F Francisco. M Kotsay popped out to shortstop. M Ellis lined out to right. M Scutaro singled to left, J Cust scored, B Crosby to third, M Scutaro to second on error by left fielder B Wilkerson. K Suzuki struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 1.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (4) AT OAKLAND (1) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Texas Starting Lineups -- K Lofton CF, M Young SS, M Teixeira 1B, S Sosa DH, M Byrd RF, G Laird C, B Wilkerson LF, J Hairston Jr 2B, T Metcalf 3B, J Wright RHP. Oakland Starting Lineups -- T Buck RF, S Stewart LF, N Swisher 1B, J Cust DH, B Crosby SS, M Kotsay CF, M Ellis 2B, M Scutaro 3B, K Suzuki C, D Braden LHP. Umpires -- Marvin Hudson (HP), Ed Montague (1B), Chris Guccione (2B), Bill Miller (3B). Gametime Weather: 63 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind in from right at 21 mph. TEXAS 1ST: K Lofton struck out looking. M Young doubled to deep right center. M Teixeira singled to right, M Young to third. S Sosa struck out looking. M Byrd struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 1ST: T Buck doubled to deep right. S Stewart grounded out to second, T Buck to third. N Swisher struck out looking. J Cust grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 2ND: G Laird flied out to left. B Wilkerson flied out to center. J Hairston Jr popped out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 2ND: B Crosby flied out to right. M Kotsay fouled out to left. M Ellis doubled to deep center. M Scutaro grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 3RD: T Metcalf singled to right. K Lofton sacrificed to third, T Metcalf to second. M Young walked. M Teixeira lined into double play, left to second, T Metcalf doubled off second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 3RD: K Suzuki grounded out to shortstop. T Buck flied out to left. S Stewart lined out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 4TH: S Sosa walked. M Byrd struck out swinging. G Laird singled to center, S Sosa to second. B Wilkerson struck out looking. J Hairston Jr doubled to deep left center, S Sosa and G Laird scored. J Hairston Jr stole third. T Metcalf flied out to left. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 4TH: N Swisher singled to center. J Cust grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, N Swisher out at second. B Crosby flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 2, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 5TH: K Lofton flied out to center. M Young struck out looking. M Teixeira singled to center. S Sosa doubled to deep right, M Teixeira to third. M Byrd doubled to left, M Teixeira and S Sosa scored. G Laird grounded out to third. (2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 5TH: M Kotsay grounded out to first. M Ellis grounded out to shortstop. M Scutaro lined out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 6TH: B Wilkerson fouled out to third. J Hairston Jr popped out to shortstop. T Metcalf struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 6TH: K Suzuki walked. T Buck walked, K Suzuki to second. S Stewart grounded into fielder's choice to third, T Buck out at second, K Suzuki to third. N Swisher grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, S Stewart out at second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 7TH: A Brown relieved D Braden. K Lofton grounded out to shortstop. M Young grounded out to third. M Teixeira grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 7TH: J Cust singled to center. B Crosby walked, J Cust to second. M Kotsay popped out to shortstop. J Cust to third, B Crosby to second on wild pitch by J Wright. M Ellis flied out to center. M Scutaro struck out looking. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 8TH: S Sosa walked. M Byrd struck out swinging. G Laird flied out to center, S Sosa thrown out at second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 8TH: F Francisco relieved J Wright. K Suzuki struck out swinging. T Buck walked. S Stewart flied out to right. N Swisher flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 9TH: K Calero relieved A Brown. B Wilkerson grounded out to second. J Hairston Jr grounded out to second. T Metcalf singled to center. K Lofton flied out to left. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 9TH: J Cust walked. B Crosby singled to left, J Cust to second. E Gagne relieved F Francisco. M Kotsay popped out to shortstop. M Ellis lined out to right. M Scutaro singled to left, J Cust scored, B Crosby to third, M Scutaro to second on error by left fielder B Wilkerson. K Suzuki struck out looking. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 1.</div>
Wright dazzles as Rangers hand A's eighth straight loss <h3>TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 1</h3>OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Jamey Wright made sure hewasn't the pitcher that the Oakland Athletics get over the humpon. Wright supplied a stellar performance on the hill and JerryHairston Jr. had two RBI as the Texas Rangers posted a 4-1triumph over the reeling Athletics in Monday's series opener. Wright (3-2) yielded just four hits with three walks and twostrikeouts in a season-high seven innings to hand the A's theireighth consecutive setback. It was Wright's first pair of back-to-back wins since rollingoff three straight from May 11-22, 2006 while with the SanFrancisco Giants. Texas opened the scoring in the fourth inning, when Hairstonbattled through a 12-pitch at-bat, fouling off seven straightpitches before stroking a two-run double off the left-centerwall against rookie Dallas Braden for a 2-0 edge. Byrd added to the Rangers cushion in the next frame with his owntwo-run double off Braden (1-4), who was recalled earlier fromClass AAA Sacramento. Rangers reliever Frank Francisco allowed two runners in theninth, but closer Eric Gagne entered to get the final three outsen route to earning his 14th save. In his first career outings against Texas, Braden allowed fourruns and eight hits with seven strikeouts in a season-tying sixinnings. The Athletics had a chance to get on the scoreboard in theseventh with runners on second and third, but Wright got MarkEllis to fly out and fanned Marco Scutaro to end the threat. Oakland's offense has gone dormant, scoring just three runs orless in each of its last 11 games. The A's have not endured ofthis kind since going 12 games long from September 12-24, 1967,when franchise was located in Kansas City.
Wright dazzles as Rangers hand A's eighth straight loss <h3>TEXAS 4, OAKLAND 1</h3>OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Jamey Wright made sure hewasn't the pitcher that the Oakland Athletics get over the humpon. Wright supplied a stellar performance on the hill and JerryHairston Jr. had two RBI as the Texas Rangers posted a 4-1triumph over the reeling Athletics in Monday's series opener. Wright (3-2) yielded just four hits with three walks and twostrikeouts in a season-high seven innings to hand the A's theireighth consecutive setback. "I felt strong, that's for sure, stronger than I did before thebreak so that's a good thing," Wright said. "I'm doing what Iwas doing before, good sinker, real good cutter, make it go bothways and let the movement get the guys out. I got lucky quitea few times too." It was Wright's first pair of back-to-back wins since rollingoff three straight from May 11-22, 2006 while with the SanFrancisco Giants. "Some balls were right at guys," Wright said. "The few balls Ileft up got popped up but its good to get lucky every now andthen too." Texas opened the scoring in the fourth inning, when Hairstonbattled through a 12-pitch at-bat, fouling off seven straightpitches before stroking a two-run double off the left-centerwall against rookie Dallas Braden for a 2-0 edge. "It was a great at-bat," Rangers manager Ron Washington said."(Braden) tried to sneak a fastball inside on him and he pulledhis hands in very well and got it over Shannon Stewart's headand Gerald (Laird) blazed around the bags from first to home." Byrd added to the Rangers cushion in the next frame with his owntwo-run double off Braden (1-4), who was recalled earlier fromClass AAA Sacramento. "That's the story is one pitch here, two pitches there andmostly, they're coming at crucial spots in the game with guys onbase," Braden said. "Like the Hairston at-bat, two outs andguys on and it didn't work out for me, made a mistake and itcosts us." Rangers reliever Frank Francisco allowed two runners in theninth, but closer Eric Gagne entered to get the final three outsen route to earning his 14th save. In his first career outings against Texas, Braden allowed fourruns and eight hits with seven strikeouts in a season-tying sixinnings. "Anytime you're putting pressure on your offense to have toscore more runs than they really need to, with the startingstaff and the bullpen we have, these guys are stingy and youwant to become part of that cohesive unit and if anything its abuilding block," Braden said. The Athletics had a chance to get on the scoreboard in theseventh with runners on second and third, but Wright got MarkEllis to fly out and fanned Marco Scutaro to end the threat. Oakland's offense has gone dormant, scoring just three runs orless in each of its last 11 games. The A's have not endured ofthis kind since going 12 games long from September 12-24, 1967,when franchise was located in Kansas City. "We haven't been scoring and the bottom line is we have to dosomething offensively to try to give our pitchers something towork with," Stewart said. "Its just a tough stretch and there'sno timely hitting." "We made a couple of mistakes out there and they capitalized orthey hit bloopers and then they get the big inning. We justcan't get it going but baseball's like that. You go in yourlittle cycles and maybe (Tuesday) it'll turn for us."
