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Oakland gets past Texas again

May 2, 2011 - 1:46 AM Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Conor Jackson had a two-run double and Kurt Suzuki added two RBI to lead Oakland over Texas, 7-2, in the third installment of a four-game series.

Gio Gonzalez (3-2) threw 6 2/3 innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks for the win. He also struck out seven in Oakland's third victory in the last four games.

"He was pretty much in command and had a great breaking ball," A's manager Bob Geren said of Gonzalez.

Starter Matt Harrison (3-3) was touched up for four runs in only 1 2/3 innings for Texas. He allowed six hits and two walks while fanning one to give the Rangers their fifth loss in their last seven games.

Oakland jumped on Texas early with a three-run first inning. Coco Crisp led off with a double and was followed by a Daric Barton walk before Jackson doubled to bring them both home. Two batters later, Suzuki singled to score Jackson.

The A's added another in the second on a Crisp single that plated Andy LaRoche for an early 4-0 lead.

"I just need to go back and keep it simple," Harrison said. "Don't think about too much or dwell on what's happened the past two starts. I need to go back to where I was in Spring Training and trust my stuff. I'm not trusting my stuff."

The onslaught continued in the third against reliever Dave Bush when Hideki Matsui doubled to score Suzuki. Oakland added another run in the inning on Cliff Pennington's RBI single that scored Matsui --- his 1,500th career run scored, combined with the Yomiuri Giants in Japan, Yankees, Angels, and A's -- to give Oakland a six-run advantage.

Texas got on the board in the sixth after Elvis Andrus led off the inning with a double, moved to third on a wild pitch, and was brought home on Michael Young's single.

The Rangers added another in the seventh when Ian Kinsler doubled to score Yorvit Torrealba, who worked a two-out walk and moved to second when Mitch Moreland was hit by a pitch.

Suzuki's RBI single in the home seventh made it a 7-2 game.

Oakland reliever's Grant Balfour, Craig Breslow and Brian Fuentes combined to get the final six outs.

Game Notes

Gonzalez has now faced the Rangers nine times (seven starts) and is 4-1 against them...Oakland is 8-3 in day games this season...Andrus extended his hit streak to seven games...Harrison was pulled after throwing 49 pitches.