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Brown carries Athletics past surging Rangers

May 12, 2008 - 12:28 AM By Jay Miller PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) - Emil Brown drove in four runs and Frank Thomas had two RBI as the Oakland Athletics posted a 12-6 victory over the Texas Rangers on Sunday.

The Athletics' win snapped the Rangers' five-game winning streak and avoided their first series sweep.

Oakland jumped out to an early 4-0 lead on Rangers starter Sidney Ponson, who surrendered an RBI single to Thomas and a three-run blast to Brown.

"I had a hard time getting used to the heat in the first two games down here," Brown said. "It's been draining everything out of me. Today, though, it was very nice. You couldn't ask for better weather to play in."

"I tried to go down and away with a sinker and it was right down the middle. It was a souvenir," Ponson said. "(Brown) did what he's supposed to do. Those guys are professional hitters and they're gonna hurt you."

Texas battled back to take the lead in the fourth inning on Josh Hamilton's run-scoring triple off A's starter Rich Harden, who gave up five runs and eight hits in just 3 2/3 innings.

"First time out, I'm somewhat happy," Harden said. "Obviously I didn't get that many innings in and gave up some runs, but I wasn't disappointed."

Thomas' sacrifice fly capped a two-run sixth to give Oakland a one-run lead. But Michael Young hit an RBI single against reliever Santiago Casilla (2-0) to tie the game at 6-6 in the bottom half.

Oakland regained in the lead an inning later on a double-steal attempt by Bobby Crosby and Mark Ellis. But Ellis got caught in a rundown between first and second while Crosby broke for the plate.

Rangers first baseman Frank Catalanotto stopped his pursuit of Ellis to try and get Crosby, but his throw was too late to catch the former AL Rookie of the Year. Ryan Sweeney also added a sacrifice fly to make it 8-6.

"We didn't execute," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "They just beat us in execution several times."

Texas' Franklyn German (1-1) picked up the loss.

Brown had an RBI single in the eighth and Daric Barton hit a two-run shot in the ninth for Oakland, which finished with 13 hits.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in two runs and Ian Kinsler had three hits and an RBI for the Rangers, who were outscored, 6-0, over the final three innings.