OAKLAND, Calif., Aug. 3 (UPI) -- Yoenis Cespedes slammed a two-run homer in the first inning Saturday and the Oakland Athletics went on to cool off Texas 4-2.
The Athletics grabbed a quick 3-0 lead when Jed Lowrie sent home Coco Crisp with a one-out single and Cespedes followed with a two-run shot, giving the A's all the offense they would need.
Jarrod Parker (7-6) yielded two runs on six hits and two walks through six innings, striking out six for American League West-leading Oakland, which snapped the Rangers' five-game winning streak.
Sean Doolittle and Ryan Cook each pitched a scoreless inning of relief and Grant Balfour notched his 29th save as the A's upped their divisional lead over second-place Texas to 3 1/2 games.
Matt Garza (1-1) took the complete-game loss, yielding four runs on eight hits over eight innings. He walked one and fanned five.
Ian Kinsler socked a solo homer and Adrian Beltre also drove in a run for the Rangers.
