In his first major league start, the left-hander gave himself a 24th birthday present a day early by shutting down one of baseball's best hitting teams. The run he yielded scored on Nelson Cruz's second-inning double.

Oakland settled the issue with a five-run fifth. Bobby Crosby had two hits and three RBI. Aaron Cunningham had two hits and two RBI.

One of two hits by Jack Cust was a fourth-inning two-run homer, while Ryan Sweeney added two hits for the Athletics, who stopped a two-game skid.

Josh Hamilton had two of the seven hits for the Rangers, who had won three of four.

Losing pitcher Scott Feldman (5-7) surrendered six earned runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings.