Burkett Strong in Ranger Win

Maybe this wasn’t John Burkett’s final start of the season.

Burkett, the odd man out if Texas goes to a four-man rotation for the final week of the season, pitched eight strong innings Friday night to lead the Rangers to a 3-1 victory over the Oakland Athletics.

“By him pitching this way,” Texas Manager Johnny Oates said, “I can justify staying with a five-man and not having to pitch four guys out of a role they haven’t been used to.”

Burkett (8-13) gave up one run and four hits, struck out one and walked none to win for the first time since Aug. 6. It was his longest start since going eight innings to beat the Athletics on July 9.

Oates, whose Rangers have won four in a row, was considering skipping Burkett down the stretch because the pitcher has been so unreliable. In addition to giving up the most earned runs in the American League, he had not reached the sixth inning in five starts and sat out his last turn because of neck spasms.

But this performance may have Oates leaning toward letting the 10-year veteran start Wednesday’s finale of a key three-game series against the Angels at Anaheim.

Oates said he was already thinking about giving Burkett another try because his other starters haven’t pitched on short rest very much in their careers. He’s especially afraid of asking 19-game winner Rick Helling and 18-game winner Aaron Sele to take on extra work; they’ve already reached career highs for innings.

“If and when I get the ball again, hopefully I’ll be able to do the same job,” Burkett said. “Do I want to pitch in those games? Of course. I’ve done it my whole career. I feel like I can rise to the occasion.”

Burkett’s eight innings were especially vital to the Rangers because the bullpen had worked 15 innings over the previous three games. Fans gave him a standing ovation when he returned to the dugout after the eighth inning.

John Wetteland gave up two hits at the start of the ninth before gaining his club-record 42nd save.