Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - It took all 162 games, but the Oakland
Athletics overcame a monumental mid-season deficit to clinch the AL West title
for the first time since 2006 with a 12-5 victory over the Texas Rangers on
Wednesday.
Oakland trailed Texas by 13 games on June 30, but the A's have gone a Major
League-best 57-26 since, including a three-game sweep of the Rangers to finish
the season and claim the 15th AL West crown in franchise history.
Coco Crisp plated a pair and scored twice in Wednesday's clincher, while
Brandon Moss added three RBI and a run scored for the A's (94-68), who could
finish with the best record in the AL and home-field advantage throughout the
league playoffs if New York loses to Boston later tonight.
Evan Scribner (2-0) earned the victory after tossing three scoreless frames in
relief of starter A.J. Griffin, who allowed five runs -- four earned -- on
seven hits in just 2 2/3 innings.
David Murphy knocked in two runs and Adrian Beltre added an RBI for the
Rangers (93-67), who will continue their quest for a third straight World
Series appearance in the first-ever wild card game on Friday. Texas will face
the second-place finisher in the AL East, either the Yankees or Baltimore.
Derek Holland (12-7) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs --
one earned -- on three hits and two walks in 2 2/3 innings of relief.
The Sports Network