AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ TEXAS (9) AT OAKLAND (11) - EVENT LOG ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Texas Starting Lineups -- I Kinsler 2B, B Wilkerson 1B, M Young SS, S Sosa DH, M Byrd RF, J Botts LF, D Murphy CF, T Metcalf 3B, G Laird C, K Gabbard LHP. Oakland Starting Lineups -- S Stewart LF, D Barton 1B, N Swisher CF, M Piazza DH, M Ellis 2B, J Cust RF, K Suzuki C, J Hannahan 3B, D Murphy SS, D Meyer LHP. Umpires -- Tim Timmons (HP), Alfonso Marquez (1B), Chuck Meriwether (2B), Rick Reed (3B). Gametime Weather: 68 degrees, Clear, wind out to right at 17 mph. TEXAS 1ST: I Kinsler walked. I Kinsler stole second. B Wilkerson popped out to third. M Young grounded out to second, I Kinsler to third. S Sosa lined out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 1ST: S Stewart popped out to second. D Barton doubled to deep right. N Swisher hit by pitch. M Piazza grounded into double play, third to first, D Barton out at third.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 2ND: M Byrd struck out swinging. J Botts struck out swinging. D Murphy singled to right. T Metcalf grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 2ND: M Ellis grounded out to third. J Cust struck out swinging. K Suzuki flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0. TEXAS 3RD: G Laird struck out swinging. I Kinsler walked. B Wilkerson reached on infield single to second, I Kinsler to second. M Young singled to center, I Kinsler to third, B Wilkerson to second. S Sosa singled to left center, I Kinsler and B Wilkerson scored, M Young to second. M Byrd singled to right, M Young scored, S Sosa to third. J Botts struck out swinging. D Murphy walked, M Byrd to second. C Lewis relieved D Meyer. T Metcalf walked, S Sosa scored, M Byrd to third, D Murphy to second. G Laird singled to center, M Byrd and D Murphy scored, T Metcalf to second. I Kinsler grounded into fielder's choice to third, G Laird out at second. (6 Runs, 5 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 0. OAKLAND 3RD: J Hannahan struck out swinging. D Murphy grounded out to shortstop. S Stewart walked. D Barton homered to right, S Stewart scored. N Swisher walked. M Piazza reached on infield single to third, N Swisher to second. M Ellis struck out swinging. (2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 2. TEXAS 4TH: B Wilkerson flied out to left. M Young lined out to left. S Sosa struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 2. OAKLAND 4TH: J Cust walked. K Suzuki grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, J Cust out at second. J Hannahan walked. D Murphy struck out swinging. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 2. TEXAS 5TH: M Byrd flied out to center. J Botts doubled to deep left. D Murphy walked. T Metcalf grounded into double play, pitcher to second to first, D Murphy out at second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 2. OAKLAND 5TH: S Stewart singled to center. D Barton singled to center, S Stewart to second. N Swisher walked, S Stewart to third, D Barton to second. M Piazza walked, S Stewart scored, D Barton to third, N Swisher to second. M Ellis walked, D Barton scored, N Swisher to third, M Piazza to second. M Wood relieved K Gabbard. J Cust singled to right, N Swisher scored, M Piazza to third, M Ellis to second. K Suzuki singled to left, M Piazza scored, M Ellis to third, J Cust to second. J Hannahan grounded into fielder's choice to pitcher, M Ellis out at home, J Cust to third, K Suzuki to second, J Cust and K Suzuki scored, J Hannahan to third on throwing error by catcher G Laird. D Murphy sacrificed to third, J Hannahan scored. S Stewart grounded out to shortstop. (7 Runs, 4 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 6, OAKLAND 9. TEXAS 6TH: S Casilla relieved C Lewis. G Laird reached on infield single to third, G Laird to second on throwing error by third baseman J Hannahan. I Kinsler struck out swinging. B Wilkerson walked. M Young struck out swinging. S Sosa homered to left, G Laird and B Wilkerson scored. M Byrd walked. A Brown relieved S Casilla. J Botts struck out swinging. (3 Runs, 2 Hits, 1 Error) TEXAS 9, OAKLAND 9. OAKLAND 6TH: J Rheinecker relieved M Wood. D Barton struck out swinging. N Swisher homered to left. W Littleton relieved J Rheinecker. M Piazza singled to right. M Ellis grounded into fielder's choice to third, M Piazza out at second. J Cust singled to right, M Ellis to third. K Suzuki singled to right, M Ellis scored, J Cust to second. J Hannahan grounded out to second. (2 Runs, 4 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 9, OAKLAND 11. TEXAS 7TH: D Murphy fouled out to third. T Metcalf struck out looking. G Laird popped out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 9, OAKLAND 11. OAKLAND 7TH: F Francisco relieved W Littleton. D Murphy struck out swinging. S Stewart singled to center. D Barton struck out swinging. S Stewart caught stealing second, catcher to shortstop.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 9, OAKLAND 11. TEXAS 8TH: A Embree relieved A Brown. N Swisher in right field. J DaVanon in center field. I Kinsler reached on infield single to second. B Wilkerson grounded into double play, first to shortstop to first, I Kinsler out at second. M Young grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) TEXAS 9, OAKLAND 11. OAKLAND 8TH: J Benoit relieved F Francisco. N Swisher flied out to center. M Piazza walked. J Furmaniak ran for M Piazza. M Ellis lined out to first. J DaVanon grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 9, OAKLAND 11. TEXAS 9TH: H Street relieved A Embree. S Sosa fouled out to first. M Byrd grounded out to pitcher. J Botts flied out to center. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) TEXAS 9, OAKLAND 11.</div>
Swisher's homer gives A's wild win over Rangers <h3>OAKLAND 11, TEXAS 9</h3>By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics continue tofight for respectability. The Athletics erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning andNick Swisher belted the go-ahead home run as Oakland overcame asix-run deficit en route to a wild 11-9 victory over the TexasRangers on Friday. Oakland entered with a 72-76 record, 15 games behind the firstplace Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American League WestDivision, and is in jeopardy of posting its first losing seasonsince 1998. Currently, only the New York Yankees (15) andBoston Red Sox (10) have posted more consecutive winning seasonsthan the Athletics. With the score tied at 9-9 and one out in the sixth, Swisherdeposited a 1-2 offering from Rangers reliever John Rheinecker(2-2) over the left field wall for a solo shot. It wasSwisher's 21st homer of the season and second in as many games. Kurt Suzuki plated an insurance run later in the inning with asingle. Andrew Brown (3-2) picked up the win after tossing 1 1/3scoreless innings. Alan Embree allowed a hit in the eighthbefore Huston Street worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save. Trailing, 6-2, in the fifth, Oakland staged its comeback whenShannon Stewart and Daric Barton opened the frame with singlesoff Texas starter Kason Gabbard. After Gabbard issued threestraight walks to force in a pair of runs, Jack Cust and KurtSuzuki delivered RBI singles against reliever Mike Wood to forgea 6-6 tie. Two more runs scored on a throwing error by Rangers catcherGerald Laird, and Donnie Murphy successfully executed a squeezeplay to plate Jack Hannahan for a 9-6 lead. Texas battled back, however, as Sammy Sosa - who opened thescoring with a two-run single in the third - belted a three-runhomer in the sixth to knot the game at 9-9. Oakland starter Dan Meyer, who was acquired from Atlanta as partof the deal involving Tim Hudson prior to the 2005 season,lasted just 2 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old lefthander - who has spent time on the minorleague disabled list in each of his three seasons in theAthletics organization - yielded six runs, five hits and threewalks with four strikeouts, throwing 73 pitches. Gabbard, who was making his eighth start for Texas since beingacquired from the Boston Red Sox in the trade for Eric Gagne,was tagged for seven runs and five hits in four innings whilewalking seven and striking out four. Barton, who made his major league debut on Monday against theSeattle Mariners, belted his first major league home run in thethird - a two-run shot to right field - to cut Oakland's deficitto 6-2.
Swisher's homer gives A's wild win over Rangers <h3>OAKLAND 11, TEXAS 9</h3>By Tom Kent PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics continue tofight for respectability. The Athletics erupted for seven runs in the fifth inning andNick Swisher belted the go-ahead home run a frame later asOakland overcame a six-run deficit and posted a wild 11-9victory over the Texas Rangers on Friday. Oakland entered with a 72-76 record, 15 games behind thefirst-place Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the American LeagueWest Division, and is in jeopardy of posting its first losingseason since 1998. Currently, only the New York Yankees (15)and Boston Red Sox (10) have posted more consecutive winningseasons than the Athletics. "Regardless of where we are in the standings, we're going tokeep fighting," Swisher said. "The emotion is still there,which is nice to see." With the score tied at 9-9 and one out in the sixth, Swisherdeposited a 1-2 offering from Rangers reliever John Rheinecker(2-2) over the left field wall for a solo shot. It wasSwisher's 21st homer of the season and second in as many games. "This team is going to keep banging," Swisher said. "We have abunch of young guys in there and it's been fun to watch. Wecame back from a huge deficit, which shows a lot of heart." Kurt Suzuki plated an insurance run later in the inning with asingle. Andrew Brown (3-2) picked up the win after tossing 1 1/3scoreless innings. Alan Embree allowed a hit in the eighthbefore Huston Street worked a perfect ninth for his 16th save. Trailing, 6-2, in the fifth, Oakland staged its comeback whenShannon Stewart and Daric Barton opened the frame with singlesoff Texas starter Kason Gabbard. After Gabbard issued threestraight walks to force in a pair of runs, Jack Cust and Suzukidelivered RBI singles against reliever Mike Wood to forge a 6-6tie. "(Gabbard) got two strikes on Stewart and couldn't put himaway," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "It just snowballedfrom there." Two more runs scored on a throwing error by Rangers catcherGerald Laird, and Donnie Murphy successfully executed a squeezeplay to plate Jack Hannahan for a 9-6 lead. "It wasn't the prettiest win," Oakland manager Bob Geren said."After the way we started off so poorly, it was great, though." Texas battled back, however, as Sammy Sosa - who opened thescoring with a two-run single in the third - belted a three-runhomer in the sixth to knot the game at 9-9. "I've always been a Sosa backer," Washington said. "I likehaving him in there because he always does something. He's anRBI machine." Oakland starter Dan Meyer, who was acquired from Atlanta as partof the deal involving Tim Hudson prior to the 2005 season,lasted just 2 2/3 innings. The 26-year-old lefthander - who has spent time on the minorleague disabled list in each of his three seasons in theAthletics organization - yielded six runs, five hits and threewalks with four strikeouts, throwing 73 pitches. "I wasn't too nervous out there," Meyer said. "I felt prettygood. My velocity was good and my off-speed was good at times.I felt great and thought I located pretty well. Everything cametogether for them in that one inning, though. I really don'thave any explanation for it." Gabbard, who was making his eighth start for Texas since beingacquired from the Boston Red Sox in the trade for Eric Gagne,was tagged for seven runs and five hits in four innings whilewalking seven and striking out four. "Obviously, you want to keep your team in the game," Gabbardsaid. "It was just one of those things where I was overlyaggressive. I was trying to make too good of pitches." Barton, who made his major league debut on Monday against theSeattle Mariners, belted his first career home run in the third- a two-run shot to right field - to cut Oakland's deficit to6-2. "I was just looking for a ball up in the zone," Barton said."They've been challenging me since I've been here, and I got oneup and was able to get the barrel on it."
