Athletics Escape Ranger Rally, 9-8

Eric Chavez drove in four runs, and Mark Ellis, Mark Kotsay and Dan Johnson homered as the Oakland Athletics held off the Texas Rangers, 9-8, Friday night at Arlington, Texas.

The victory enabled the Athletics to remain 1 1/2 games behind Cleveland in the wild-card race and a game behind the Angels in the AL West.

Mark Teixeira hit his 37th homer and drove in five runs for the Rangers. His three-run shot off closer Huston Street in the ninth cut it to 9-8, but Street retired Alfonso Soriano on a fly out to end it.

After scoring five runs during a four-game losing streak, the A’s have broken through for 17 runs in winning their last two.

Ranger rookie Juan Dominguez (3-4), who took a no-hitter into the seventh inning in his previous start against Kansas City, gave up eight runs and seven hits in 3 1/3 innings.

New York 8, Boston 4 -- Derek Jeter turned in two great defensive plays and drove in the go-ahead run, and Aaron Small won his seventh consecutive decision to lead the Yankees in the opener of a key three-game series at Yankee Stadium.

Alex Rodriguez and Jorge Posada homered off David Wells (12-7) as New York overcame a 3-1 deficit and cut Boston’s East Division lead to three games. The Yankees remained half a game behind Cleveland in the wild-card race.

Cleveland 4, Minnesota 2 -- The surging Indians retained the wild-card lead, beating Johan Santana for the first time behind six strong innings from Jake Westbrook (14-14) at Cleveland. Santana (13-7) was 5-0 with a 2.84 earned-run average in 18 games against Cleveland. The Indians, who have won five in a row, are 16-5 since Aug. 18. Westbrook, who yielded both runs and six hits, won for the fourth time in five starts and is 13-7 since a 1-7 start.

Seattle 3, Baltimore 2 -- Jamie Moyer pitched effectively into the eighth inning at Seattle, and Richie Sexson drove in two runs for the Mariners. Moyer (12-6) improved to 9-0 this year and 50-26 in his career at Safeco Field. Left fielder Jamal Strong threw out the potential tying run at the plate in the eighth.

Kansas City 12, Detroit 2 -- Zack Greinke (4-16) won for the first time since July 19, giving up one run and five hits in 5 2/3 innings at Detroit. Greinke, the league leader in losses, had been 0-5 in eight outings since his last win. It was the Tigers’ season-high ninth consecutive loss.

Toronto 7, Tampa Bay 2 -- Josh Towers (11-10) pitched six effective innings for the Blue Jays at St. Petersburg, Fla, giving up nine hits and two runs. He has gone six innings or more in 10 consecutive starts.