The Oakland Athletics managed to pick up a huge series win on Thursday, as they had a dominating 7-1 victory over the Texas Rangers to take three of four from their division rivals.
The Rangers looked largely punchless as they continued their underwhelming play as of late. The A's got on the board in the bottom of the first as Seth Smith drove in Jemile Weeks with an RBI single. Yoenis Cespedes left the game after the play, injuring his hamstring going first-to-third. The Athletics have officially listed Cespedes as day-to-day. They can ill afford to have their center fielder go back on the disabled list so soon after coming off it.
Coco Crisp hit a solo home run in the bottom of the third inning to put the A's up 2-0. The Rangers cut the lead in half with an RBI single by Adrian Beltre in the top of the third, but 2-1 would be as close as Texas would get. The A's immediately hung a crooked number in the bottom of the frame, pushing four runs across on a Cliff Pennington sac fly and a bases-clearing triple by Crisp. New callup Brandon Moss hit a solo shot in the bottom of the seventh to make it 7-1.
Brandon McCarthy picked up his fifth win of the season by going seven innings and allowing just three hits and no walks.
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