Davis' 2-run triple wins game for A's

[August 04, 2009]  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Pinch hitter Rajai Davis tripled down the right field line to drive in two runs and lift the Oakland Athletics to a 3-2 victory over the Texas Rangers on Monday night.

C.J. Wilson (4-5) blew his third save in 16 chances after allowing singles to Jack Cust, Tommy Everidge and Mark Ellis, before Davis' triple.

Mike Wuertz (6-1) pitched 1 1-3 innings to win the game.

Marlon Byrd drove in a run and Hank Blalock scored the game's first run on a double play for the Rangers.

A's starter Brett Anderson gave up six hits over 7 2-3 innings with eight strikeouts and three walks.

Dustin Nippert, who started in place of the injured Kevin Millwood, gave up a hit in five innings. He walked two and struck out five.

Neftali Feliz, one of the Rangers' top pitching prospects, made an impressive major league debut by striking out the side in the top of the sixth in relief of Nippert. He retired all six hitters he faced.

Wilson entered the game with one out in the ninth. After giving up Cust's infield single, he struck out pinch hitter Nomar Garciaparra before giving up three consecutive hits, culminating in Davis' triple.

Right fielder Nelson Cruz came up limping after the final play and was helped off the field by a trainer.

Kurt Suzuki singled and Scott Hairston walked with one out in the first but Rangers pitchers combined to retire 22 of the next 23 hitters before Cliff Pennington singled with two outs in the eighth against Frank Francisco.

Blalock and Josh Hamilton singled around a walk to Andruw Jones opening the fifth. Anderson induced Jarrod Saltamacchia to ground into a double play, with Blalock scoring. Byrd singled home a run in the seventh.

NOTES: Rangers INF Michael Young singled in the fourth to extend his hitting streak to 10 games, the 18th time in his career he has hit safely in at least 10 in a row. ... The Rangers opened a stretch in which they play 25 of the next 36 games on the road. ... The Rangers moved Feliz from the rotation to the bullpen in Triple-A to prepare him for his debut. ... The A's won for the third time in 53 games when trailing after the eighth inning. ... Davis has 16 RBIs since the All-Star break.

[Associated Press]

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