GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: AL: TEXAS (41-52) at OAKLAND (44-50)

AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - PITCHING CHANGE
OAK: SANTIAGO CASILLA (2-1, 0.81) STARTING THE 8TH
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 5

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: D RELAFORD (.158, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: S Casilla relieved L DiNardo.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0
OAKLAND 5 TOP, 8TH

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: D Relaford (.158, 0-FOR-2)</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 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
OAKLAND 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 5 4 0 (BOT 8)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - WILLIE EYRE
OAK - SANTIAGO CASILLA

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: N SWISHER (.254, 0-FOR-2, BB)
M ELLIS (.263, 1-FOR-2, HBP)
M KOTSAY (.221, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS OAKLAND (5) - MID 8TH - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hairston Jr rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .220
M Young ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .288
M Teixeira dh 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .302
M Byrd cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .355
A Melhuse c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
B Wilkerson lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .218
D Relaford 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .150
R Vazquez 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
T Metcalf 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .203

Totals 27 0 3 0 0 3 5

BATTING: 2B - T Metcalf (5, L DiNardo); B Wilkerson (11, L DiNardo). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - R Vazquez 1, J Hairston Jr 1. Team LOB - 3.


FIELDING: E - K Millwood (2, throw). DP: 1 (M Young-D Relaford-R Vazquez).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Buck rf 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 .273
S Stewart lf 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 .305
J Cust dh 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .258
N Swisher 1b 2 1 0 0 1 0 3 .254
M Ellis 2b 2 1 1 0 0 0 0 .263
M Kotsay cf 3 1 0 0 0 1 1 .221
M Scutaro 3b 3 1 1 1 0 0 1 .246
B Crosby ss 2 1 1 2 1 1 0 .225
K Suzuki c 3 0 0 0 0 2 3 .206

Totals 24 5 4 5 4 5 11

BATTING: HR - B Crosby (8, 7th inning off W Eyre 0 on, 0 Out). SF - T Buck. RBI
- M Scutaro (14), B Crosby 2 (31), T Buck (23), S Stewart (28). 2-out RBI - S
Stewart. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - N Swisher 2. GIDP - M
Scutaro. Team LOB - 4.


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 000 000 00 -- 0
OAKLAND - 040 000 1 -- 5
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood 6 3 4 1 3 4 0 5.50
W Eyre 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 3.88

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo 7 3 0 0 0 3 0 2.51
S Casilla 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.77

WP - K Millwood. HBP - M Ellis (by K Millwood). Pitches-strikes: K Millwood
105-59; W Eyre 12-7; L DiNardo 84-57; S Casilla 9-6. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Millwood 10-5; W Eyre 1-1; L DiNardo 12-6; S Casilla 1-2. Batters faced: K
Millwood 25; W Eyre 5; L DiNardo 24; S Casilla 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Chris Guccione. 1B--Bill Miller. 2B--Marvin Hudson. 3B--Ed
Montague.

Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, left to right.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE
FIELDER'S CHOICE BY MARK KOTSAY SCORED NICK SWISHER.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M KOTSAY ON FIRST, 1 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0
OAKLAND 6 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M SCUTARO (.246, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</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 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 1
OAKLAND 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 6 6 0 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - WILLIE EYRE
OAK - SANTIAGO CASILLA

DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J HAIRSTON JR (.220, 1-FOR-3)
M YOUNG (.288, 0-FOR-3)
M TEIXEIRA (.302, 0-FOR-3)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS OAKLAND (6) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hairston Jr rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .220
M Young ss 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .288
M Teixeira dh 3 0 0 0 0 2 1 .302
M Byrd cf 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .355
A Melhuse c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
B Wilkerson lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .218
D Relaford 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .150
R Vazquez 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
T Metcalf 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .203

Totals 27 0 3 0 0 3 5

BATTING: 2B - T Metcalf (5, L DiNardo); B Wilkerson (11, L DiNardo). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - R Vazquez 1, J Hairston Jr 1. Team LOB - 3.


FIELDING: E - K Millwood (2, throw). DP: 1 (M Young-D Relaford-R Vazquez).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Buck rf 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 .273
S Stewart lf 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 .305
J Cust dh 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .258
N Swisher 1b 3 2 1 0 1 0 3 .256
M Ellis 2b 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 .265
M Kotsay cf 4 1 0 1 0 1 2 .219
M Scutaro 3b 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .244
B Crosby ss 2 1 1 2 2 1 0 .225
K Suzuki c 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 .200

Totals 29 6 6 6 5 5 15

BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (22, W Eyre). HR - B Crosby (8, 7th inning off W Eyre 0
on, 0 Out). SF - T Buck. RBI - M Scutaro (14), B Crosby 2 (31), T Buck (23), S
Stewart (28), M Kotsay (17). 2-out RBI - S Stewart. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - N Swisher 2, K Suzuki 1. GIDP - M Scutaro. Team LOB - 6.


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 000 000 00 -- 0
OAKLAND - 040 000 11 -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood 6 3 4 1 3 4 0 5.50
W Eyre 2 3 2 2 2 1 1 3.98

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo 7 3 0 0 0 3 0 2.51
S Casilla 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0.77

WP - K Millwood. HBP - M Ellis (by K Millwood). Pitches-strikes: K Millwood
105-59; W Eyre 40-21; L DiNardo 84-57; S Casilla 9-6. Ground balls-fly balls: K
Millwood 10-5; W Eyre 2-3; L DiNardo 12-6; S Casilla 1-2. Batters faced: K
Millwood 25; W Eyre 11; L DiNardo 24; S Casilla 3.

UMPIRES: HP--Chris Guccione. 1B--Bill Miller. 2B--Marvin Hudson. 3B--Ed
Montague.

Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, left to right.</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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
OAKLAND 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 x 6 6 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD, WILLIE EYRE (7TH) AND ADAM MELHUSE

OAK - LENNY DINARDO, SANTIAGO CASILLA (8TH) AND KURT
SUZUKI

HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE

OAK - BOBBY CROSBY (8) OFF WILLIE EYRE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON</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 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 1
OAKLAND 0 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 x 6 6 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD, WILLIE EYRE (7TH) AND ADAM MELHUSE

OAK - LENNY DINARDO, SANTIAGO CASILLA (8TH) AND KURT
SUZUKI


WP - LENNY DINARDO (4-6)
LP - KEVIN MILLWOOD (6-8)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: TEX - NONE

OAK - BOBBY CROSBY (8) OFF WILLIE EYRE IN THE 7TH, 0 ON


TIME: 2:25 ATT: 23,440

PROBABLES: BAL - GARRETT OLSON (1-0, 3.86)
OAK - JOE BLANTON (8-6, 3.36)

PROBABLES: CLE - C.C. SABATHIA (12-4, 3.78)
TEX - KAMERON LOE (5-7, 5.49)</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS OAKLAND (6) - FINAL

TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Hairston Jr rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 1 .218
M Young ss 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .289
M Teixeira dh 4 0 0 0 0 2 1 .300
M Byrd cf 4 0 0 0 0 1 1 .353
A Melhuse c 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .254
B Wilkerson lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .218
D Relaford 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .150
R Vazquez 1b 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 .243
T Metcalf 3b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .203

Totals 31 0 4 0 0 4 6

BATTING: 2B - T Metcalf (5, L DiNardo); B Wilkerson (11, L DiNardo). Runners
left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1, R Vazquez 1, J Hairston Jr 1. Team
LOB - 4.

FIELDING: E - K Millwood (2, throw). DP: 1 (M Young-D Relaford-R Vazquez).


OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
T Buck rf 3 0 0 1 0 0 2 .273
S Stewart lf 3 0 1 1 1 0 0 .305
J Cust dh 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 .258
N Swisher 1b 3 2 1 0 1 0 3 .256
M Ellis 2b 3 1 2 0 0 0 0 .265
M Kotsay cf 4 1 0 1 0 1 2 .219
M Scutaro 3b 4 1 1 1 0 0 2 .244
B Crosby ss 2 1 1 2 2 1 0 .225
K Suzuki c 4 0 0 0 0 2 5 .200

Totals 29 6 6 6 5 5 15

BATTING: 2B - N Swisher (22, W Eyre). HR - B Crosby (8, 7th inning off W Eyre 0
on, 0 Out). SF - T Buck. RBI - M Scutaro (14), B Crosby 2 (31), T Buck (23), S
Stewart (28), M Kotsay (17). 2-out RBI - S Stewart. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - N Swisher 2, K Suzuki 1. GIDP - M Scutaro. Team LOB - 6.


----------------------------------------------------
TEXAS - 000 000 000 -- 0
OAKLAND - 040 000 11x -- 6
----------------------------------------------------

TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era
K Millwood (L, 6-8) 6 3 4 1 3 4 0 5.50
W Eyre 2 3 2 2 2 1 1 3.98

OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era
L DiNardo (W, 4-6) 7 3 0 0 0 3 0 2.51
S Casilla 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0.74

WP - K Millwood. HBP - M Ellis (by K Millwood). Pitches-strikes: K Millwood
105-59; W Eyre 40-21; L DiNardo 84-57; S Casilla 29-19. Ground balls-fly balls:
K Millwood 10-5; W Eyre 2-3; L DiNardo 12-6; S Casilla 2-3. Batters faced: K
Millwood 25; W Eyre 11; L DiNardo 24; S Casilla 7.

UMPIRES: HP--Chris Guccione. 1B--Bill Miller. 2B--Marvin Hudson. 3B--Ed
Montague.

T--2:25. Att--23,440.
Weather: 69 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, left
to right.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
AL
TEXAS 0
OAKLAND 6 FINAL</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEXAS (0) AT OAKLAND (6) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OAKLAND 2ND: N Swisher walked. M Ellis singled to left, N Swisher to
second. M Kotsay grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, N Swisher to
third, M Ellis safe at second on throwing error by pitcher K Millwood.
M Scutaro singled to center, N Swisher scored, M Ellis to third, M Kotsay to
second. B Crosby walked, M Ellis scored, M Kotsay to third, M Scutaro to
second. K Suzuki struck out swinging. T Buck hit sacrifice fly to left,
M Kotsay scored. S Stewart singled to right, M Scutaro scored, B Crosby to
third. S Stewart to second on wild pitch by K Millwood. J Cust walked.
N Swisher grounded out to second. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

OAKLAND 7TH: W Eyre relieved K Millwood. B Crosby homered to left.
K Suzuki struck out looking. T Buck lined out to left. S Stewart walked.
J Cust grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 5.

OAKLAND 8TH: N Swisher doubled to right. M Ellis singled to center,
N Swisher to third. M Kotsay grounded into fielder's choice to second, N Swisher
scored, M Ellis out at second. M Scutaro flied out to center. B Crosby
walked, M Kotsay to second. K Suzuki flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 6.</div>

 

AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
TEXAS (0) AT OAKLAND (6) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Texas Starting Lineups -- J Hairston Jr RF, M Young SS, M Teixeira DH, M Byrd
CF, A Melhuse C, B Wilkerson LF, D Relaford 2B, R Vazquez 1B, T Metcalf 3B,
K Millwood RHP.

Oakland Starting Lineups -- T Buck RF, S Stewart LF, J Cust DH, N Swisher 1B,
M Ellis 2B, M Kotsay CF, M Scutaro 3B, B Crosby SS, K Suzuki C, L DiNardo LHP.

Umpires -- Chris Guccione (HP), Bill Miller (1B), Marvin Hudson (2B),
Ed Montague (3B).

Gametime Weather: 69 degrees, Partly Cloudy, wind left to right at 10 mph.


TEXAS 1ST: J Hairston Jr flied out to center. M Young struck out swinging.
M Teixeira struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0.

OAKLAND 1ST: T Buck popped out to shortstop. S Stewart lined out to left.
J Cust grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0.

TEXAS 2ND: M Byrd grounded out to shortstop. A Melhuse grounded out to
shortstop. B Wilkerson popped out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0,
OAKLAND 0.

OAKLAND 2ND: N Swisher walked. M Ellis singled to left, N Swisher to
second. M Kotsay grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, N Swisher to
third, M Ellis safe at second on throwing error by pitcher K Millwood.
M Scutaro singled to center, N Swisher scored, M Ellis to third, M Kotsay to
second. B Crosby walked, M Ellis scored, M Kotsay to third, M Scutaro to
second. K Suzuki struck out swinging. T Buck hit sacrifice fly to left,
M Kotsay scored. S Stewart singled to right, M Scutaro scored, B Crosby to
third. S Stewart to second on wild pitch by K Millwood. J Cust walked.
N Swisher grounded out to second. (4 Runs, 3 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

TEXAS 3RD: D Relaford grounded out to third. R Vazquez grounded out to
shortstop. T Metcalf hit a ground rule double to left. J Hairston Jr grounded
out to third. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

OAKLAND 3RD: M Ellis hit by pitch. M Kotsay struck out looking. M Scutaro
grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, M Ellis out at
second.(0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

TEXAS 4TH: M Young grounded out to shortstop. M Teixeira grounded out to
third. M Byrd flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

OAKLAND 4TH: B Crosby struck out swinging. K Suzuki flied out to right.
T Buck flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

TEXAS 5TH: A Melhuse grounded out to shortstop. B Wilkerson doubled to
center. D Relaford grounded out to third. R Vazquez flied out to center.
(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

OAKLAND 5TH: S Stewart grounded out to third. J Cust struck out looking.
N Swisher grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

TEXAS 6TH: T Metcalf grounded out to shortstop. J Hairston Jr reached on
bunt single to catcher. M Young flied out to right. M Teixeira struck out
swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

OAKLAND 6TH: M Ellis grounded out to third. M Kotsay grounded out to
third. M Scutaro grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0,
OAKLAND 4.

TEXAS 7TH: M Byrd grounded out to third. A Melhuse grounded out to third.
B Wilkerson flied out to left. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 4.

OAKLAND 7TH: W Eyre relieved K Millwood. B Crosby homered to left.
K Suzuki struck out looking. T Buck lined out to left. S Stewart walked.
J Cust grounded out to shortstop. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 5.

TEXAS 8TH: S Casilla relieved L DiNardo. D Relaford flied out to left.
R Vazquez flied out to right. T Metcalf grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 5.

OAKLAND 8TH: N Swisher doubled to right. M Ellis singled to center,
N Swisher to third. M Kotsay grounded into fielder's choice to second, N Swisher
scored, M Ellis out at second. M Scutaro flied out to center. B Crosby
walked, M Kotsay to second. K Suzuki flied out to right. (1 Run, 2 Hits,
0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 6.

TEXAS 9TH: J Hairston Jr flied out to right. M Young singled to center.
M Young to second on fielder's indifference. M Teixeira grounded out to first,
M Young to third. M Byrd struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0,
OAKLAND 6.</div>

 

DiNardo sharp as A's blank Rangers

<h3>OAKLAND 6, TEXAS 0</h3>OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Lenny DiNardo tossed sevenscoreless innings and Bobby Crosby homered and drove in two runsas the Oakland Athletics snapped a season-high nine-game losingstreak with a 6-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesdayafternoon.


Travis Buck, Shannon Stewart, Mark Kotsay and Marco Scutaro eachdrove in a run for the Athletics, who used a four-run secondinning to set the tone for the victory.


Oakland snapped its longest losing streak since 1998 with itsfirst victory after the All-Star break.


The Athletics (45-50) now are 11 1/2 games behind the LosAngeles Angels of Anaheim (55-37) in the American League Westand 10 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Indians (55-39) in thewild card race.


It was the furthest the Athletics have been out in the playoffrace since they finished the 1998 season 14 games out of firstplace.


DiNardo (4-6), who entered Wednesday's game having lost his lasttwo starts, yielded just three hits, while striking out threewithout walking a batter. Santiago Casilla worked the eighthand ninth, allowing just one hit, to record his third save.

Oakland opened the scoring in the second inning against Texasstarter Kevin Millwood. With runners on first and second and noouts, Millwood fielded Kotsay's comebacker and threw high toshortstop Michael Young to load the bases.


Scutaro then lined a single to center and Crosby followed with awalk to make it 2-0. After Kurt Suzuki struck out, Buck hit asacrifice fly and Stewart added an RBI single to cap the scoringin the frame.


Crosby greeted Texas reliever Willie Eyre by belting a solo shotover the left field wall for a 5-0 advantage in the seventh.Kotsay drove in Oakland's final run with a fielder's choiceground ball in the eighth.


Millwood (6-8) allowed four runs - one earned - and three hitsin six innings, while striking out four and walking three forthe Rangers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.

 

DiNardo sharp as A's blank Rangers

<h3>OAKLAND 6, TEXAS 0</h3>OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- Lenny DiNardo tossed sevenscoreless innings and Bobby Crosby homered and drove in two runsas the Oakland Athletics snapped a season-high nine-game losingstreak with a 6-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesdayafternoon.


Travis Buck, Shannon Stewart, Mark Kotsay and Marco Scutaro eachdrove in a run for the Athletics, who used a four-run secondinning to set the tone for the victory.


Oakland snapped its longest losing streak since 1998 with itsfirst victory after the All-Star break.


"It was a solid all-around baseball game today," Athleticsmanager Bob Geren said. "Lenny pitched really well, and it wasa good offensive day for us as well. It was a needed win forthe team. I couldn't be happier with the entire performance."

The Athletics (45-50) now are 11 1/2 games behind the LosAngeles Angels of Anaheim (55-37) in the American League Westand 10 1/2 games behind the Cleveland Indians (55-39) in thewild card race.


It is the farthest the Athletics have been out in the playoffrace since they finished the 1998 season 14 games out of firstplace.


DiNardo (4-6), who entered Wednesday's game having lost his lasttwo starts, yielded just three hits, while striking out threewithout walking a batter. Santiago Casilla worked the eighthand ninth, allowing just one hit, to record his third save.

"I don't think I was the one to end the streak," DiNardo said."We ended it as a team. We came together, put some runs on theboard and pitched well. I think we can build momentum off ofthis. I think we played good baseball as a team. I give a lotof credit to my teammates."


Oakland opened the scoring in the second inning against Texasstarter Kevin Millwood. With runners on first and second and noouts, Millwood fielded Kotsay's comebacker and threw high toshortstop Michael Young to load the bases.


Scutaro then lined a single to center and Crosby followed with awalk to make it 2-0. After Kurt Suzuki struck out, Buck hit asacrifice fly and Stewart added an RBI single to cap the scoringin the frame.


"I was just trying to get a double-play ball there and get outof the inning with as little damage as possible," Millwood said."They hit some good pitches after that and took advantage ofthe mistake."


"I tell you, if we make that double play, instead of the scorebeing 4-0 after that inning was over, it probably would havebeen 2-0." Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We still feltgood about the game. Even after that inning, (Millwood) threwup five zeros. Its just that their pitcher threw up seven."

Crosby greeted Texas reliever Willie Eyre by belting a solo shotover the left field wall for a 5-0 advantage in the seventh.Kotsay drove in Oakland's final run with a fielder's choiceground ball in the eighth.


"I think we were all just waiting for it to end," Crosby said."It took longer than we would have liked, but we knew it wouldend at some point. All of us were struggling at the same time.Hopefully, this will give us some confidence."


Millwood (6-8) allowed four runs - one earned - and three hitsin six innings, while striking out four and walking three forthe Rangers, who had their three-game winning streak snapped.