Brown keys Oakland's win over Rangers

Baseball Betting Lines

05/11/2008 - Arlington, TX (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Emil Brown finished with four runs batted in, including a three-run homer, as the Oakland Athletics avoided a weekend sweep and clobbered the Texas Rangers, 12-6.

Daric Barton hit a two-run homer and Frank Thomas had two RBI. Mark Ellis went 3-for-5 for Oakland, which halted a two-game losing streak and has won five of seven overall.

A's starter Rich Harden was roughed up after being activated from the disabled list before the game, lasting only 3 2/3 innings, giving up five runs on eight hits and four walks. Harden, who had been out since early April with a strained right shoulder, struck out five.

"I went out there and felt strong," Harden said. "I just threw too many pitches. It wasn't the prettiest game but I'm just glad to be back."

The A's pitching finally settled down in the latter stages, getting 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief from Santiago Casilla (2-0), Alan Embree and Huston Street to close out the game.

Ian Kinsler went 3-for-5, scoring twice with a run batted in for Texas. Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in two runs.

Texas starter Sidney Ponson lasted 5 1/3 innings, surrendering six runs on seven hits and five walks.

The loss halted a five-game win streak for Texas, which lost for just the third time in its last 12 contests.

Oakland jumped on top for good in the seventh with two runs during a back and forth affair. Bobby Crosby doubled and Ellis singled. Franklyn German (1-1) threw to first on a pick-off try and had Ellis hung up going to second, but forgot about Crosby, who raced home just ahead of the tag for the go-ahead run. Jack Hannahan singled and Jamey Wright then came in from the bullpen, but Ryan Sweeney lofted a sacrifice fly to center for an 8-6 Oakland lead.

The A's added a run in the eighth on an RBI single from Brown and three in the ninth on a two-run home run from Barton, and pinch-runner Donnie Murphy scored on an errant throw from Saltalamacchia on a double steal attempt.

The A's scored four runs in the first off Ponson. Mike Sweeney took first after being hit by a pitch with one out, Jack Cust doubled and Thomas singled to center for a 1-0 lead. Brown followed taking a first-pitch fastball to the left field seats.

Texas got one back in the bottom half on consecutive two-out doubles from Josh Hamilton and Milton Bradley and added another in the second on a Kinsler RBI single to center.

The Rangers picked up two more in the third to tie the game. Texas loaded the bases with two outs on a pair of walks and a base hit before Saltalamacchia singled to right scoring two, but then overslid the base at second for the third out.

Hamilton tripled in Kinsler in the fourth, but Oakland scored twice in the sixth to assume a 6-5 edge. The A's loaded the bases on a single and two walks with one out. Ponson walked Cust to force in a run before he was lifted in favor of German, who gave up a sac fly to Thomas.

Texas came right back in the bottom half and tied it on a Michael Young RBI single.

Game Notes

Texas continues its homestand, opening a three-game set with Seattle on Monday...Oakland stays on the road heading to Cleveland for a three-game, beginning Tuesday...Thomas has 1,695 RBI, tying Cal Ripken Jr. for 21st on the all-time list.