Athletics 0 - 2 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Rangers slip past A's, win seventh straight

Jul 11, 2011 - 12:02 AM

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Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Adrian Beltre hit a two-run homer and the Rangers beat the Athletics 2-0 on Sunday to head into the All-Star break on a season-high seven-game winning streak.

Matt Harrison (7-7) pitched 7 2/3 innings and combined with Mark Lowe and Neftali Feliz on the six-hit shutout. Feliz threw the ninth for his 18th save.

Coco Crisp had two hits for the A's, who lost six of their last seven heading into the break.

The Rangers pushed their record to an AL West-leading 51-41. They finished the first half on a high note with an 8-2 homestand, but also amidst tragedy following the death of a fan on Thursday.

They will start the second half on a seven-game road trip, beginning Thursday in Seattle.

"We just have to go out there after the break and continue to play good baseball like we know we can," said Rangers manager Ron Washington.

The A's went 39-53 under two different managers. They are 12-17 since Bob Melvin took over as interim manager for Bob Geren on June 9.

"[Harrison] had pretty good stuff. He cuts it and sinks it and throws a changeup on all counts and mixed in enough curveballs," said Melvin. "We were in some decent counts, we just couldn't do anything."

Josh Hamilton delivered a dramatic win in Saturday's game, hitting a two-run walkoff homer just two days after firefighter Shannon Stone died from injuries sustained when he fell reaching for a foul ball tossed into the stands by the Rangers outfielder.

On Sunday, Beltre played the hero by knocking a 1-0 sinker from Oakland starter Trevor Cahill (8-7) over the wall in left-center field for the game's only runs. Beltre's 19th homer of the season came with two outs and scored Hamilton, who walked.

Cahill remained winless in his last three starts despite a good outing and fell to 2-7 since opening the season 6-0. He allowed five hits and two walks while striking out three in 7 2/3 innings.

Harrison was also pulled with two outs in the eighth after Crisp singled with two outs. Washington called on Lowe, who escape the inning when Crisp was thrown out trying to steal second base by catcher Mike Napoli.

Afterward, Washington said the plan was to yank Harrison if a runner reach base. Earlier in the inning, Jemile Weeks had led off with a single but was erased when David DeJesus grounded into a double play. Harrison was left in until Crisp's hit to left.

"He got the first two outs and then a guy got on the bag," explained Washington of his decision.

Game Notes

Harrison improved to 2-3 in his last 7 games...Rangers starter Alexi Ogando made the AL All-Star team because James Shields of the Rays and CC Sabathia both pitched Sunday...The Rangers started the season on a six-game winning streak.






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