ARLINGTON, Texas, Sept. 27 (UPI) -- Billy Koch gave up two runs in the ninth inning but escaped a bases-loaded jam Friday night as the Oakland Athletics held on to defeat the Texas Rangers, 3-2, to remain a half game behind the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League.
The A's lost their season series with the Yankees and must overtake them to possess home-field advantage in the playoffs.
Mulder (19-7) scattered three hits over seven innings and left the contest with a 3-0 lead. After Jim Mecir pitched a scoreless eighth, Koch took the mound for the ninth but promptly gave up a leadoff single to Herbert Perry.
The closer then walked Alex Rodriguez and Perry advanced to third on a ball-four wild pitch. Rafael Palmeiro followed with a single to right field that drove in Perry and moved Rodriguez to third.
Ivan Rodriguez, perhaps playing his final series as a member of the Rangers, drove in Alex Rodriguez with a single to make it 3-2. After Todd Greene sacrificed, pinch hitter Mike Lamb was intentionally walked to load the bases with one out.
But Koch induced Carl Everett to hit a grounder that first baseman Scott Hatteberg fielded and threw to the plate to force Blalock. Donnie Sadler lined out to third baseman Frank Menechino to end the contest. Koch posted his 44th save, tying him with Minnesota's Eddie Guardado for the American League lead.
Ray Durham led off the game with a double against Chan Ho Park (9-8), advanced to third on Mark Ellis' infield hit and scored on David Justice's one-out single to right-center field. After Park walked Greg Myers to load the bases, Menechino scored Ellis with a groundout to stake Mulder to a 2-0 lead.
Neither pitcher allowed another run until the seventh, when Jason Grabowski rapped a one-out double against Park - his first major league hit - and scored on Durham's double off the wall in left-center.
Mulder (19-7), who will start Game 2 of Oakland's Division Series against Minnesota on Wednesday, allowed only one runner past second base as he improved to 6-0 over his last nine starts.
