OAKLAND, Calif., May 7 (UPI) -- Elvis Andrus hit the second home run of his career Wednesday and Texas eased into first place in the American League West with a 3-2 win over Oakland.
The Rangers won their fifth straight and moved a half game in front of Seattle, which sustained a 9-1 loss to Kansas City earlier in the evening.
Neither team scored over the final five innings and Texas closer Frankie Francisco was called on in the ninth to protect the one-run lead.
Francisco gave up a lead-off walk to Orlando Cabrera and a two-out single to Jack Cust that put runners on first and third. Kurt Suzuki then hit a fly ball to the warning tack in left field that David Murphy hauled in to end the game. It was the A's fourth straight loss.
That gave the victory to Scott Feldman (2-0), who surrendered two runs on four hits in six innings. The save was Francisco's ninth in as many chances this season. He has yet to give up a run in 2009.
Andrus hit his solo homer in the second. The Rangers took a 3-0 lead in the fourth on Murphy's sacrifice fly and an RBI single from Chris Davis.
Dan Giese (0-3) suffered the loss while allowing eight hits and three runs in 5 2/3.
