OAKLAND, Calif., May 4 (UPI) -- Rich Harden pitched seven shutout innings and Michael Young had three hits and an RBI Monday to post the Texas Rangers to a 4-2 win over Oakland.
Harden (2-1) allowed only two hits, issued no walks and struck out nine in a dominating performance while flame-throwing Neftali Perez tossed a perfect ninth to pick up his sixth save for the Rangers, who won their fourth straight game.
Young smacked an RBI double in the fifth to put Texas up 2-0 and Josh Hamilton followed with a single to add another run.
Justin Smoak homered in the ninth and Ryan Garko added an RBI in the Rangers' win.
Oakland's Dallas Braden (3-2) took the loss despite posting a quality start, allowing three runs on 11 hits over seven innings.
Kevin Kouzmanoff smacked a two-run homer in the eighth inning for the A's.
