Oakland, Calif., Sept. 24: Hank Blalock drove in four runs Wednesday, two of them with a fourth-inning homer, and Texas overcame the loss of a four-run lead to defeat Oakland 9-8.">
The Rangers won for only the third time in 10 games and inched within 6 1/2 games of the division-leading Los Angeles Angels in the American League West. Texas trails Boston by seven games in the AL wild-chard chase.
Texas took a 4-0 lead, only to have the Athletics score five times in the fourth inning. The Rangers came back with four runs in the fifth, one of them scoring on a double by Blalock. He also had an RBI double in the first.
Just four of the Texas runs were earned courtesy of three Oakland errors.
Tommy Hunter (9-4) got the win despite allowing seven runs on nine hits 5 2/3 innings. Frank Francisco worked the ninth for his 24th save.
Clayton Mortensen (2-3) allowed six runs, but just three were earned over 4 2/3.
Copyright 2009 by United Press International.
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