ARLINGTON, Texas -- Though Bill Stein has seven RBI in his last two games, the Texas Rangers' reserve second baseman is not setting his sights on the American League crown.
'It just so happens in the last couple games we've had men in scoring position whenever I've come up,' Stein said Saturday night after hitting a pair of two-run singles to lead the Rangers to their fifth straight victory, an 8-3 decision over the Oakland A's.
The victory kept the Rangers in first place in the AL West by a half game over California.
'When I have a chance to play I want to produce and my chances of doing that are enhanced when the guys are on base for me,' said Stein, who drove in three runs in the second game of Friday's night double-header sweep of Oakland with a two-run double and an RBI single. 'But I'm not an everyday player. When Wayne Tolleson gets healthy, he'll be back at second and I'll be on the bench because I'm a utility player.'
Winner Frank Tanana said he had a problem with long periods in the dugout, a problem he'll gladly endure every outing if necessary.
'I had some long innings in the dugout when our guys were scoring some runs (five in the second, three in the fourth). I wasn't as sharp as I was in previous starts,' he said.
Strong Ranger pitching has allowed manager Doug Rader only limited use of his bullpen lately. He took advantage of Saturday's lead to work John Butcher.
'We got to give our bullpen some work,' Tanana said. 'It was good timing with that kind of lead to get John some work.'
Tanana, 3-1, worked the first six innings, allowing three runs on five hits, striking out six and walking two. Butcher pitched the last three innings to earn his fourth save.
The Rangers scored five runs in the second inning. Starter Bill Krueger, 6-6, issued walks to George Wright and Dave Hostetler and retired Pete O'Brien before walking Jim Sundberg to load the bases. Bucky Dent and Billy Sample slapped consecutive RBI singles to give Texas a 2-0 lead, and Stein laced an 0-2 pitch into left field for a two-run single that made it 4-0. Steve Baker relieved and allowed a sacrifice fly to Buddy Bell, giving Texas a 5-0 lead.
The Rangers added three runs in the fourth inning on Sample's RBI double and another two-run single by Stein that made it 8-2 and chased Baker.
The A's cut the lead to 5-2 in the third on a two-out single by Rick Peters and Davey Lopes' eighth homer of the year. Oakland added a run in the sixth on an RBI double by Jeff Burroughs to make it 8-3.
Oakland center fielder Rickey Henderson left the game in the fourth inning with bruised ribs suffered while making a diving catch of a Larry Parrish pop fly in the second.
Bell had a 15-game hitting streak snapped.
