Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Oakland secured its first postseason berth
since 2006, but the Athletics remain in pursuit of a bigger prize.
Coco Crisp had two hits, an RBI and two runs scored in the A's 4-3 win over
the Texas Rangers in the opener of a regular season-ending three-game series.
The hard-charging A's, who have won seven of their last nine games, need to
sweep Texas in order to win the American League West crown, but will at worst
be one of the AL's two wild card teams.
Jarrod Parker (13-8) fanned six and surrendered three runs on six hits and two
walks over six-plus frames to pick up the win.
Grant Balfour struck out the side in the ninth and notched his 23rd save of
the season.
Martin Perez (1-4) allowed four runs on six hits and two walks in four-plus
innings for Texas, which holds a one-game lead over Oakland and is tied with
the New York Yankees for the best record in the American League. The Yankees
defeated the Boston Red Sox earlier on Monday.
The Sports Network