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Sep 26, 2010 - 2:29 AM By NOEY KUPCHAN STATS Writer

Texas (85-68) at Oakland (77-76), 4:05 p.m. EDT

After clinching their first division title since 1999, the Texas Rangers may be able to relax briefly.

Playoff-bound Texas wraps up a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics on Sunday after joining Minnesota as the only teams to have secured postseason births so far.

With a 4-3 win Saturday, the Rangers (86-68) secured their first AL West title and playoff berth since 1999. Jorge Cantu's homer in the eighth inning snapped a 3-3 tie - the first time he'd gone deep since being acquired from Florida in July for the stretch run.

"We just got Cantu a couple months ago and he came up with a humongous hit for us," second baseman Ian Kinsler said. "It was a great team effort today and it's the way we've been playing baseball all year. We just seem to pick each other up constantly."

For manager Ron Washington, who admitted earlier this year to using cocaine, the final out resulted in relief.

"When that ball went up all I wanted it to do was land in (left fielder Nelson Cruz's) glove," he said. "When it landed, I was able to relax. We committed to do something and we got it done, so that should tell those guys when they commit themselves and they bring the proper attitude and put the full effort there, real great things can happen for you."

Luckily for the Rangers, they were able to close things out before having to suit up against Trevor Cahill.

Cahill (17-7, 2.81 ERA) is 3-0 with a 0.68 ERA in four starts versus the Rangers this season, and 6-1 with a 1.55 ERA in eight career starts against Texas.

The right-hander defeated the Rangers in his most recent start against them Aug. 8 at the Coliseum, allowing two unearned runs and six hits in eight innings as Oakland triumphed 3-2.

Cahill has been nearly unbeatable at home, winning six consecutive starts en route to an 11-2 record with a 1.63 ERA. He defeated the visiting White Sox on Tuesday, limiting them to two runs and six hits with seven strikeouts over eight innings of a 7-2 victory.

"He's just made so much progress since last season," manager Bob Geren told the Athletics' official site. "The command of his fastball is a whole heck of a lot better."

Things haven't been going as well for Colby Lewis (11-13, 3.79) as he takes the mound for Texas.

Since going 8-5 with a 3.33 ERA prior to the All Star break, Lewis is 3-8 with a 4.42 ERA in the second half of the season.

He has posted an 0-3 record with a 3.69 ERA over five starts against the Athletics this season, and was roughed up in his most recent start against them. The right-hander surrendered seven runs - five earned - in 5 2-3 innings as the Rangers fell 8-2 on Aug. 29.

Cruz, who is third on Texas with 21 home runs and fourth with 75 RBIs, is 1 for 13 against Cahill in his career.

The Rangers are the only current franchise to never win a playoff series.