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Rangers get best of Athletics

Sep 17, 2014 - 6:32 AM Oakland, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Jake Smolinski hit his first career home run, while Adrian Beltre doubled twice among his three hits and scored a run to pace Texas' 6-3 decision over Oakland in the opener of a three-game set.

"That's one I won't forget," Smolinski said.

Robinson Chirinos, Rougned Odor and Daniel Robertson each collected an RBI for the Rangers, who have won four in a row.

Nick Tepesch (5-10) worked six innings for the positive result, allowing three runs on five hits. Neftali Feliz turned in a spotless ninth for his 10th save.

Brandon Moss homered, Josh Donaldson doubled twice and Derek Norris drove in a run for the Athletics, who began their final homestand of the season with their fourth loss in six overall.

Scott Kazmir (14-9) was tagged in defeat for six runs -- four earned -- over 4 1/3 frames as Oakland, whose prospects for an AL West title are dim, still hold the top wild card spot.

"We got beat all the way around, unfortunately. I thought we'd come ready to play," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

Texas sent Kazmir to the showers with a three-run fifth that provided a 6-2 advantage.

Beltre hit a one-out double then scored when A's shortstop Jed Lowrie threw wild to first on Rua's grounder. Chirinos then singled home Rua, who was stationed at second following the error. Ryan Cook was called on, but uncorked a wild pitch that moved Chirinos to second, and two batters later, an Odor base hit chased him home for the four-run margin.

Moss' one-out homer to right pulled Oakland within three, but Tepesch finished up by retiring the next two batters.

Roman Mendez took care of business over the next 1 1/3 innings, Neal Cotts left a runner on second to complete the eighth, and Feliz registered two fly outs and a groundout in the hosts' final at-bat.

Smolinski's two-run blast to left center in the fourth gave Texas the lead, two batters after Rua was aboard with a leadoff single. Odor then bounced a ball high off the dirt at first, and though he was out at second trying to stretch the hit, Smolinski crossed home for a 3-0 game.

Oakland trimmed its deficit to one in the bottom half as Josh Reddick lifted a sacrifice fly to center with the bases loaded and Norris added an RBI infield hit.

Game Notes

Smolinski, 25, hit 10 home runs over 80 combined games this season with Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Round Rock ... Kazmir has dropped his last four decisions, and has gone winless in five starts since a 6-2 win against the Mets on Aug. 19 ... Tuesday marked the first time all season that Texas' offense provided at least five runs of support while Tepesch was on the mound.