AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - PITCHING CHANGE TEX: JOAQUIN BENOIT (7-3, 2.55) STARTING THE 9TH CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8, TEXAS 12 DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K THOMPSON (.200, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Benoit relieved W Littleton. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 8 TEXAS 12 TOP, 9TH DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K Thompson (.200, 1-FOR-4, RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY NICK SWISHER (19) TO RIGHT CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN THE 9TH OFF JOAQUIN BENOIT. CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 9, TEXAS 12 DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.260, 0-FOR-3, 2 BB)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 1 0 1 0 1 5 0 1 9 9 1 TEXAS 0 8 0 0 0 1 3 0 x 12 13 3 (FINAL) BATTERIES: OAK - LENNY DINARDO, COLBY LEWIS (2ND), SANTIAGO CASILLA (6TH), ALAN EMBREE (7TH), RUDDY LUGO (7TH), HUSTON STREET (8TH) AND ROB BOWEN TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD, FRANK FRANCISCO (2ND), SCOTT FELDMAN (3RD), BILL WHITE (5TH), JOHN RHEINECKER (7TH), WES LITTLETON (7TH), JOAQUIN BENOIT (9TH) AND GERALD LAIRD HOME RUNS: OAK - NICK SWISHER (18) OFF BILL WHITE IN THE 6TH, 0 ON NICK SWISHER (19) OFF JOAQUIN BENOIT IN THE 9TH, 0 ON TEX - SAMMY SOSA (19) OFF COLBY LEWIS IN THE 2ND, 2 ON</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL FINAL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 0 1 0 1 0 1 5 0 1 9 9 1 TEXAS 0 8 0 0 0 1 3 0 x 12 13 3 (FINAL) BATTERIES: OAK - LENNY DINARDO, COLBY LEWIS (2ND), SANTIAGO CASILLA (6TH), ALAN EMBREE (7TH), RUDDY LUGO (7TH), HUSTON STREET (8TH) AND ROB BOWEN TEX - KEVIN MILLWOOD, FRANK FRANCISCO (2ND), SCOTT FELDMAN (3RD), BILL WHITE (5TH), JOHN RHEINECKER (7TH), WES LITTLETON (7TH), JOAQUIN BENOIT (9TH) AND GERALD LAIRD WP - BILL WHITE (1-0) LP - LENNY DINARDO (8-9) SAVE - NONE HOME RUNS: OAK - NICK SWISHER (18) OFF BILL WHITE IN THE 6TH, 0 ON NICK SWISHER (19) OFF JOAQUIN BENOIT IN THE 9TH, 0 ON TEX - SAMMY SOSA (19) OFF COLBY LEWIS IN THE 2ND, 2 ON TIME: 4:08 ATT: 25,054 PROBABLES: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA (5-9, 6.01) & TEX - BRANDON MCCARTHY (5-8, 4.79) DET - CHAD DURBIN (8-6, 4.57) & DET - JAIR JURRJENS (1-1, 3.60) PROBABLES: OAK - JOE BLANTON (12-9, 3.81) SEA - HORACIO RAMIREZ (8-5, 6.45)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">OAKLAND (9) VS TEXAS (12) - FINAL OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg K Thompson cf 5 1 1 1 1 1 5 .192 J Hannahan 3b 4 1 1 1 1 2 0 .266 N Swisher rf 4 3 2 3 1 1 3 .263 J Cust dh 4 0 0 0 2 4 4 .259 M Ellis 2b 5 1 3 3 0 0 4 .268 D Johnson 1b 4 0 0 0 1 0 3 .227 D Murphy ss 4 0 0 0 1 2 4 .227 R Bowen c 3 2 1 0 2 1 1 .364 J DaVanon lf 4 1 1 1 1 0 1 .224 Totals 37 9 9 9 10 11 25 BATTING: 2B - M Ellis (28, W Littleton). HR - N Swisher 2 (19, 6th inning off B White 0 on, 1 Out, 9th inning off J Benoit 0 on, 2 Out). SF - N Swisher. RBI - J DaVanon (4), N Swisher 3 (67), K Thompson (3), J Hannahan (15), M Ellis 3 (63). 2-out RBI - J DaVanon, M Ellis 3, N Swisher. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 2, D Johnson 1, K Thompson 3, D Murphy 2. Team LOB - 13. FIELDING: E - D Murphy (4, throw). DP: 1 (D Murphy-M Ellis-D Johnson). TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 2 3 0 0 2 1 2 .274 J Hairston Jr 3b 4 1 1 3 1 0 1 .194 M Young ss 4 1 2 1 1 0 3 .309 S Sosa dh 5 2 3 4 0 0 3 .253 M Byrd cf 5 1 1 0 0 0 2 .310 J Botts lf 3 1 2 1 1 0 0 .231 D Murphy pr-lf 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 .365 N Cruz rf 5 2 3 1 0 1 1 .220 G Laird c 3 0 1 0 0 1 3 .220 J Saltalamacchia 1b 3 0 0 0 0 2 4 .242 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .239 Totals 36 12 13 10 5 5 19 BATTING: 2B - G Laird (16, C Lewis). 3B - N Cruz (1, C Lewis). HR - S Sosa (19, 2nd inning off C Lewis 2 on, 2 Out). S - G Laird. RBI - J Botts (11), N Cruz (26), J Hairston Jr 3 (16), S Sosa 4 (83), M Young (74). 2-out RBI - J Hairston Jr 3, S Sosa 4, M Young. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Byrd 1, S Sosa 1, G Laird 1, I Kinsler 2. GIDP - S Sosa. Team LOB - 7. FIELDING: E - J Saltalamacchia (6, throw); M Young (15, ground ball); G Laird (11, catch). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 010 101 501 -- 9 TEXAS - 080 001 30x -- 12 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era L DiNardo (L, 8-9) 1 2/3 4 7 3 2 1 0 3.87 C Lewis 4 4 2 2 1 4 1 7.29 S Casilla 1/3 1 0 0 1 0 0 3.94 A Embree 2/3 4 3 3 1 0 0 4.04 R Lugo 1/3 0 0 0 0 0 0 6.06 H Street 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 3.24 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Millwood 1 1/3 1 1 1 0 3 0 5.31 F Francisco 1 1/3 1 0 0 5 2 0 4.79 S Feldman 1 1/3 0 1 1 3 0 0 6.08 B White (W, 1-0) 2 2 1 1 1 3 1 3.37 J Rheinecker 2/3 3 5 1 1 1 0 5.48 W Littleton (H, 2) 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.57 J Benoit 1 1 1 1 0 1 1 2.64 S Feldman pitched to 1 batter in the 5th. IBB - I Kinsler (by A Embree). HBP - J Hannahan (by S Feldman); I Kinsler (by C Lewis). Pitches-strikes: L DiNardo 53-29; C Lewis 70-40; S Casilla 20-12; A Embree 32-18; R Lugo 2-1; H Street 8-8; K Millwood 31-18; F Francisco 55-27; S Feldman 35-16; B White 38-26; J Rheinecker 32-18; W Littleton 22-13; J Benoit 17-10. Ground balls-fly balls: L DiNardo 3-1; C Lewis 4-4; S Casilla 1-0; A Embree 0-2; R Lugo 1-0; H Street 2-1; K Millwood 0-1; F Francisco 0-2; S Feldman 1-3; B White 1-2; J Rheinecker 1-0; W Littleton 2-1; J Benoit 0-2. Batters faced: L DiNardo 12; C Lewis 17; S Casilla 3; A Embree 7; R Lugo 1; H Street 3; K Millwood 5; F Francisco 10; S Feldman 9; B White 9; J Rheinecker 7; W Littleton 5; J Benoit 4. UMPIRES: HP--Ted Barrett. 1B--James Hoye. 2B--Mark Carlson. 3B--Angel Hernandez. T--4:08. (Plus 2 rain delays totaling 89 minutes in the 1st, 2nd). Att--25,054. Weather: 92 degrees, overcast. Wind: 5 mph, out to center.</div>
Sosa sparks huge second inning for Rangers in easy win <h3>TEXAS 12, OAKLAND 9</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Whatever moisture was left behindby the rain early in the game was dried up by the heat generatedby the Texas Rangers' offense shortly thereafter. Sammy Sosa had two hits - including a three-run homer - in aneight-run second inning as the Rangers blasted the OaklandAthletics, 12-9, on Sunday. The game was delayed twice, 16 minutes before the start of thecontest and 73 minutes in the top of the second. However, oncethe game was resumed after the second delay, Texas quickly putthe contest out of reach. In the bottom of the second, Sosa led off the frame with astring of four consecutive singles, including RBI singles byJason Botts and Nelson Cruz off Athletics starter Lenny DiNardo(8-9) to make the score 2-0. After Gerald Laird sacrificed andJarrod Saltalamacchia grounded out to third, Ian Kinsler walkedto load the bases. Jerry Hairston, Jr. followed with another walk to push acrossanother run and moved to third when Michael Young reached on athrowing error by Oakland shortstop Donnie Murphy. The playallowed two runs to score to increase the lead to 5-0 beforeSosa belted the second pitch he saw from reliever Colby Lewisover the fence in left-center for a three-run home run. The 442-foot shot by Sosa was only the 12th home run to reachthe second deck in the history of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Sosa, who had his first three-hit game since June 26 andfinished with four RBI, hit an RBI single in the sixth to extendthe lead to 9-3. The Rangers needed all the offense they could muster early on asOakland stormed back with five runs - but only one earned - inthe seventh due to a couple errors by Young and catcher GeraldLaird to trim the lead to 9-8. However, Texas put the game out of reach in the bottom half ofthe inning when Hairston hit a two-run single and Young followedwith his own run-scoring single to increase the lead to 12-8. Bill White (1-0) allowed a run and two hits in the fifth andsixth innings to get his first major league win. Nick Swisher homered twice and Mark Ellis had three hits andthree RBI for the A's, who lost for the eighth time in theirlast nine road contests.
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (9) AT TEXAS (12) - HOW THEY SCORED ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND 2ND: J Cust struck out looking. M Ellis singled to center. F Francisco relieved K Millwood. D Johnson flied out to right. D Murphy walked, M Ellis to second. R Bowen walked, M Ellis to third, D Murphy to second. J DaVanon walked, M Ellis scored, D Murphy to third, R Bowen to second. K Thompson popped out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 2ND: S Sosa singled to left. M Byrd singled to left, S Sosa to second. J Botts singled to center, S Sosa scored, M Byrd to third. N Cruz singled to center, M Byrd scored, J Botts to second. G Laird sacrificed to third, J Botts to third, N Cruz to second. J Saltalamacchia grounded out to third. I Kinsler walked. J Hairston Jr walked, J Botts scored, N Cruz to third, I Kinsler to second. M Young safe at second on throwing error by shortstop D Murphy, N Cruz and I Kinsler scored, J Hairston Jr to third. C Lewis relieved L DiNardo. S Sosa homered to left, J Hairston Jr and M Young scored. M Byrd flied out to left. (8 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Error) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 8. OAKLAND 4TH: R Bowen walked. J DaVanon flied out to left. K Thompson walked, R Bowen to second. J Hannahan hit by pitch, R Bowen to third, K Thompson to second. N Swisher hit sacrifice fly to center, R Bowen scored. J Cust walked, K Thompson to third, J Hannahan to second. M Ellis grounded into fielder's choice to third, J Hannahan out at third, J Cust to second. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 8. OAKLAND 6TH: J Hannahan struck out swinging. N Swisher homered to left. J Cust walked. M Ellis fouled out to catcher. D Johnson flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, TEXAS 8. TEXAS 6TH: J Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. I Kinsler hit by pitch. J Hairston Jr flied out to left. S Casilla relieved C Lewis. M Young walked, I Kinsler to second. S Sosa singled to left, I Kinsler scored, M Young to second. M Byrd grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, S Sosa out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, TEXAS 9. OAKLAND 7TH: J Rheinecker relieved B White. B Wilkerson at first base. D Murphy grounded out to third. R Bowen singled to center. J DaVanon safe at first on error by shortstop M Young, R Bowen to second. K Thompson singled to center, R Bowen scored, J DaVanon to third. J Hannahan singled to right, J DaVanon scored, K Thompson to second. N Swisher walked, K Thompson to third, J Hannahan to second. J Cust struck out swinging. W Littleton relieved J Rheinecker. M Ellis doubled to deep left, K Thompson, J Hannahan and N Swisher scored, M Ellis to third on error by catcher G Laird. D Johnson grounded out to second. (5 Runs, 4 Hits, 2 Errors) OAKLAND 8, TEXAS 9. TEXAS 7TH: A Embree relieved S Casilla. J Botts reached on infield single to catcher. D Murphy ran for J Botts. N Cruz singled to center, D Murphy to second. G Laird bunt popped out to pitcher. B Wilkerson flied out to center, D Murphy to third, N Cruz to second. I Kinsler intentionally walked. J Hairston Jr singled to left, D Murphy and N Cruz scored, I Kinsler to second. M Young singled to right, I Kinsler scored, J Hairston Jr to third. R Lugo relieved A Embree. S Sosa grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Young out at second. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 8, TEXAS 12. OAKLAND 9TH: J Benoit relieved W Littleton. K Thompson flied out to right. J Hannahan flied out to center. N Swisher homered to right center. J Cust struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 9, TEXAS 12.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ OAKLAND (9) AT TEXAS (12) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Oakland Starting Lineups -- K Thompson CF, J Hannahan 3B, N Swisher RF, J Cust DH, M Ellis 2B, D Johnson 1B, D Murphy SS, R Bowen C, J DaVanon LF, L DiNardo LHP. Texas Starting Lineups -- I Kinsler 2B, J Hairston Jr 3B, M Young SS, S Sosa DH, M Byrd CF, J Botts LF, N Cruz RF, G Laird C, J Saltalamacchia 1B, K Millwood RHP. Umpires -- Ted Barrett (HP), James Hoye (1B), Mark Carlson (2B), Angel Hernandez (3B). Gametime Weather: 92 degrees, Overcast, wind out to center at 5 mph. OAKLAND 1ST: K Thompson struck out looking. J Hannahan struck out looking. N Swisher flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 1ST: I Kinsler struck out swinging. J Hairston Jr flied out to left. M Young grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 0, TEXAS 0. OAKLAND 2ND: J Cust struck out looking. M Ellis singled to center. F Francisco relieved K Millwood. D Johnson flied out to right. D Murphy walked, M Ellis to second. R Bowen walked, M Ellis to third, D Murphy to second. J DaVanon walked, M Ellis scored, D Murphy to third, R Bowen to second. K Thompson popped out to second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 0. TEXAS 2ND: S Sosa singled to left. M Byrd singled to left, S Sosa to second. J Botts singled to center, S Sosa scored, M Byrd to third. N Cruz singled to center, M Byrd scored, J Botts to second. G Laird sacrificed to third, J Botts to third, N Cruz to second. J Saltalamacchia grounded out to third. I Kinsler walked. J Hairston Jr walked, J Botts scored, N Cruz to third, I Kinsler to second. M Young safe at second on throwing error by shortstop D Murphy, N Cruz and I Kinsler scored, J Hairston Jr to third. C Lewis relieved L DiNardo. S Sosa homered to left, J Hairston Jr and M Young scored. M Byrd flied out to left. (8 Runs, 5 Hits, 1 Error) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 8. OAKLAND 3RD: J Hannahan walked. N Swisher struck out swinging. J Cust struck out looking. M Ellis singled to left, J Hannahan to second. D Johnson walked, J Hannahan to third, M Ellis to second. S Feldman relieved F Francisco. D Murphy lined out to right. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 8. TEXAS 3RD: J Botts walked. N Cruz struck out swinging. G Laird doubled to deep left, J Botts to third. J Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. I Kinsler grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 1, TEXAS 8. OAKLAND 4TH: R Bowen walked. J DaVanon flied out to left. K Thompson walked, R Bowen to second. J Hannahan hit by pitch, R Bowen to third, K Thompson to second. N Swisher hit sacrifice fly to center, R Bowen scored. J Cust walked, K Thompson to third, J Hannahan to second. M Ellis grounded into fielder's choice to third, J Hannahan out at third, J Cust to second. (1 Run, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 8. TEXAS 4TH: J Hairston Jr flied out to right. M Young singled to center. S Sosa grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, M Young out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 8. OAKLAND 5TH: D Johnson safe at first on throwing error by first baseman J Saltalamacchia. B White relieved S Feldman. D Murphy struck out looking. R Bowen struck out looking. J DaVanon singled to right, D Johnson to third. K Thompson grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, J DaVanon out at second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 1 Error) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 8. TEXAS 5TH: M Byrd grounded out to shortstop. J Botts flied out to left. N Cruz tripled to deep center. G Laird struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 2, TEXAS 8. OAKLAND 6TH: J Hannahan struck out swinging. N Swisher homered to left. J Cust walked. M Ellis fouled out to catcher. D Johnson flied out to center. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, TEXAS 8. TEXAS 6TH: J Saltalamacchia struck out swinging. I Kinsler hit by pitch. J Hairston Jr flied out to left. S Casilla relieved C Lewis. M Young walked, I Kinsler to second. S Sosa singled to left, I Kinsler scored, M Young to second. M Byrd grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, S Sosa out at second. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 3, TEXAS 9. OAKLAND 7TH: J Rheinecker relieved B White. B Wilkerson at first base. D Murphy grounded out to third. R Bowen singled to center. J DaVanon safe at first on error by shortstop M Young, R Bowen to second. K Thompson singled to center, R Bowen scored, J DaVanon to third. J Hannahan singled to right, J DaVanon scored, K Thompson to second. N Swisher walked, K Thompson to third, J Hannahan to second. J Cust struck out swinging. W Littleton relieved J Rheinecker. M Ellis doubled to deep left, K Thompson, J Hannahan and N Swisher scored, M Ellis to third on error by catcher G Laird. D Johnson grounded out to second. (5 Runs, 4 Hits, 2 Errors) OAKLAND 8, TEXAS 9. TEXAS 7TH: A Embree relieved S Casilla. J Botts reached on infield single to catcher. D Murphy ran for J Botts. N Cruz singled to center, D Murphy to second. G Laird bunt popped out to pitcher. B Wilkerson flied out to center, D Murphy to third, N Cruz to second. I Kinsler intentionally walked. J Hairston Jr singled to left, D Murphy and N Cruz scored, I Kinsler to second. M Young singled to right, I Kinsler scored, J Hairston Jr to third. R Lugo relieved A Embree. S Sosa grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, M Young out at second. (3 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 8, TEXAS 12. OAKLAND 8TH: D Murphy in left field. D Murphy struck out swinging. R Bowen grounded out to second. J DaVanon popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 8, TEXAS 12. TEXAS 8TH: H Street relieved R Lugo. M Byrd grounded out to second. D Murphy flied out to right. N Cruz grounded out to pitcher. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 8, TEXAS 12. OAKLAND 9TH: J Benoit relieved W Littleton. K Thompson flied out to right. J Hannahan flied out to center. N Swisher homered to right center. J Cust struck out swinging. (1 Run, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) OAKLAND 9, TEXAS 12.</div>
Sosa sparks huge second inning for Rangers in easy win <h3>TEXAS 12, OAKLAND 9</h3>ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Whatever moisture was left behindby the rain early in the game was dried up by the heat generatedby the Texas Rangers' offense shortly thereafter. Sammy Sosa had two hits - including a three-run homer - in aneight-run second inning as the Rangers blasted the OaklandAthletics, 12-9, on Sunday. The game was delayed twice, 16 minutes before the start of thecontest and 73 minutes in the top of the second. However, oncethe game was resumed after the second delay, Texas quickly putthe contest out of reach. In the bottom of the second, Sosa led off the frame with astring of four consecutive singles, including RBI singles byJason Botts and Nelson Cruz off Athletics starter Lenny DiNardo(8-9) to make the score 2-0. After Gerald Laird sacrificed andJarrod Saltalamacchia grounded out to third, Ian Kinsler walkedto load the bases. "I was just going up looking for a good pitch," Sosa said. "Hethrew me a sinker inside and I was able to get a good swing onit." Jerry Hairston, Jr. followed with another walk to push acrossanother run and moved to third when Michael Young reached on athrowing error by Oakland shortstop Donnie Murphy. The playallowed two runs to score to increase the lead to 5-0 beforeSosa belted the second pitch he saw from reliever Colby Lewisover the fence in left-center for a three-run home run. The 442-foot shot by Sosa was only the 12th home run to reachthe second deck in the history of Rangers Ballpark in Arlington. Sosa, who had his first three-hit game since June 26 andfinished with four RBI, hit an RBI single in the sixth to extendthe lead to 9-3. "Sosa is an absolute RBI machine," Rangers manager RonWashington said. "He smells them when they're on base and thenhe picks them up." The Rangers needed all the offense they could muster early on asOakland stormed back with five runs - but only one earned - inthe seventh due to a couple errors by Young and catcher GeraldLaird to trim the lead to 9-8. However, Texas put the game out of reach in the bottom half ofthe inning when Hairston hit a two-run single and Young followedwith his own run-scoring single to increase the lead to 12-8. "Sometimes, you've got to win ugly and tonight, we won ugly,"Washington said. "When they put up those five runs in theseventh, I was proud of the way we answered (back). That's justthe way this team has been playing ball lately." Bill White (1-0) allowed a run and two hits in the fifth andsixth innings to get his first major league win. Nick Swisher homered twice and Mark Ellis had three hits andthree RBI for the A's, who lost for the eighth time in theirlast nine road contests.
