How AL West Was Won--Athletics Clinch Title by Beating Texas, 5-0

Baseball teams can repeat. Just look at the Oakland Athletics.

The A’s clinched their second straight American League West title Wednesday night with a 5-0 victory over the Texas Rangers.

The win assured them of the best record in baseball for the second consecutive year. Oakland, the first repeat division champion since Kansas City in 1984-85, won its eighth AL West title, the most for any team since divisional play began in 1969.

“We went out and did the job for six months,” A’s Manager Tony La Russa said. “We’ve got a good thing going here. We’ve got to take care of it. All year long, we’ve had to play hard, because none of the other teams would cut us a break. It was more than just one team playing good, usually two or three clubs would play well behind us.”

Oakland, which overtook the Angels and moved into first place on Aug. 22, clinched eight days later than last year but early enough to have its pitching rotation ready for the AL playoffs, which begin Tuesday night at the Oakland Coliseum against Toronto or Baltimore. Three-time 20-game winner Dave Stewart will pitch Game 1.

“This one feels better because it’s been a fight all year long,” reliever Dennis Ecklersley said. “The Angels and Royals just never let up.”

Mike Moore, signed as a free agent last winter for $3.95 million over three years, became Oakland’s third 19-game winner by allowing one hit and no runs in seven innings. Moore (19-11) joined Stewart (20-9) and Storm Davis (19-7).

Moore has allowed two earned runs in 30 1/3 innings during his last four starts against Texas, an earned-run average of 0.59. He is scheduled to start Sunday against Kansas City in his attempt for his first 20-win season.

“Mike Moore came over here in a position where he didn’t have to be an ace,” Oakland pitching coach Dave Duncan said. “We didn’t tell him to come over here and carry our ballclub, and I think that lack of pressure helped him all year long.

“He’s one big reason why we’re here, but with our staff, he doesn’t have to be the reason.”

Rick Honeycutt followed Moore and got two outs. Gene Nelson then relieved and got four outs, completing the four-hitter.

* ROYALS WIN, BUT . . .

They’re eliminated despite 8-3 victory over Angels. Mike Penner’s story, Page 9.