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Cahill holds Rangers in check

Apr 30, 2011 - 6:11 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Trevor Cahill threw seven shutout innings to remain undefeated, and the Oakland Athletics held on for a 3-1 victory over the scuffling Texas Rangers to open a four-game series.

Cahill (4-0) gave up seven hits and four walks, striking out four as the A's started their seven-game homestand on a winning note.

Grant Balfour stranded two runners in the eighth and Brian Fuentes shook off Michael Young's RBI single in the ninth to earn his seventh save.

C.J. Wilson (3-1) took the loss after allowing three runs -- one earned -- in seven good innings. He gave up eight hits and three walks, striking out three.

The Rangers, coming off a 5-5 homestand, fell to just 6-10 since opening the season 9-1. They started a seven-game road trip.

The A's stranded runners in scoring position in each of the first two innings -- they left nine players on base in the game -- but took a 1-0 lead when Kurt Suzuki delivered an RBI single with two outs in the third. Daric Barton scored after reaching on an error by centerfielder Julio Borbon.

"A big hit," said A's manager Bob Geren -- and his team got a couple more of those two innings later when Conor Jackson and Josh Willingham led off the fifth with back-to-back doubles to make it 2-0.

As it turned out, those were the only runs Oakland needed.

Cahill got out of a bases-loaded jam in the first inning, then didn't allow a runner to reach scoring position until Mitch Moreland singled David Murphy to second in the fourth.

"I didn't make too many adjustments. I think I made some quality pitches they just weren't swinging at," said Cahill.

He escaped trouble in the sixth and seventh and Oakland got an insurance run in the bottom of the seventh, sparked by singles from Barton and Willingham.

Suzuki grounded into a fielder's choice after that, but Barton scored when Texas second baseman Ian Kinsler threw past first trying to turn a double play. Willingham broke it up with a good slide.

Game Notes

Cahill threw 62 of his 100 pitches for strikes and lowered his ERA to 1.88...The A's won despite being out-hit by Texas 11-8.