• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Rangers knock around Milone, top A's

Jun 20, 2013 - 6:34 AM Arlington, TX (Sports Network) - Adrian Beltre's RBI double capped a four-run sixth inning, and the Texas Rangers pulled away for a 9-4 win over the Oakland Athletics in the third installment of a four-game series.

Lance Berkman belted a two-run homer in the second inning, and Nelson Cruz went 3-for-5 with a pair of RBI for the Rangers, who have won two of the first the contests after entering this set on a six-game slide. Ian Kinsler also drove in two runs and David Murphy had three hits and two runs scored.

Chris Young smacked a three-run homer for the AL West-leading Athletics, who have dropped four of their last six contests. They lead the Rangers by two games.

Justin Grimm (6-5) allowed three hits and as many runs over five innings to get the win, the first by a Rangers starter in club's 18 games this month.

"This win goes to our offense," Grimm said. "They came back and picked me up after that pitch. That's good to see."

Tommy Milone (6-7) was charged with eight hits and six runs over 5 1/3 frames.

"With this lineup, you can't afford to miss a whole lot and expect good results," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "That's what they get paid to do -- hit mistakes."

Berkman homered to left-center with Beltre aboard in the second, but Young's blast to center on a 3-1 pitch with two outs in the fifth gave Oakland the lead. Josh Reddick and Eric Sogard walked leading to the go-ahead hit.

Ian Kinsler sacrifice fly to right-center scored Murphy in the bottom of the fifth, and the Rangers went ahead for good later in the inning thanks in part to a poor throw to the plate.

Elvis Andrus walked to put runners at the corners, and Cruz sent a grounder to third base. Josh Donaldson's throw home was toward the first-base side and Leonys Martin beat the tag of Derek Norris with a nifty slide.

Consecutive one-out singles from Robinson Chirinos and David Murphy led Milone to be replaced by Dan Otero. Martin grounded a ball into center field for a 5-3 cushion. Kinsler then lined a single up the middle.

An infield hit by Cruz scored Martin, and Beltre's double to left plated Kinsler to finish the rally for an 8-3 advantage.

A Jesse Chavez wild pitch scored A.J. Pierzynski in the seventh.

Donaldson singled in Yoenis Cespedes in the top of the eighth.

Game Notes

Norris left the game due to an injured groin ... Murphy came into the game in a 7-for-50 slump ... Cruz has reached safely in 11 straight games.