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 In his first save opportunity since that day, the Rangers'
right-hander delivered, securing victory for right-handed pitcher
Jerome Williams, who limited the Oakland Athletics to one run over
six innings in the Texas Rangers' 4-1 victory over the A's on
Friday.
Williams (2-4) gave up five hits while striking out four and walking
none as a fill-in in Texas' injury-riddled starting rotation. Feliz
worked around trouble in the bottom of the ninth to earn his first
regular-season save since Sept. 28, 2011. He blew that save
opportunity in Game 6 of the World Series on Oct. 24, 2011.
The next season, he was placed in the Texas rotation, but was lost
for the better part of two seasons recovering from Tommy John
surgery.
"Of course, I know it was 2011 since the last time I was in that
situation, but I'm very happy to be back in the role," said Feliz,
who was beaten out of the role in spring training by right-hander
Joakim Soria, who was traded to Detroit this week.
"And I'm more happy because it was for a win for my team."
Third baseman Adrian Beltre went 2-for-4 with an RBI in the Rangers'
two-run sixth.
 First baseman J.P. Arencibia and right fielder Alex Rios each had
run-scoring base hits in the second and third innings, respectively.
Left fielder Jim Adduci also had an RBI in the sixth.
Texas (41-62), which had dropped 13 of its last 15 games before
Friday, is 6-27 in its last 33 games. Oakland fell to 63-39.
Right-hander Jason Hammel (0-3) took the loss for Oakland (63-39).
In his third start since being acquired from the Chicago Cubs,
Hammel gave up four runs on five hits and two walks, while striking
out three.
One of Hammel's runs was unearned after a throwing error by center
fielder Yoenis Cespedes in the Rangers' sixth led to their fourth
run on Adduci's sacrifice fly.
Hammel has a 7.38 ERA since joining Oakland.
"I thought he pitched better, a better mix," Oakland manager Bob
Melvin said. "For the first couple of innings it looked like he got
the ball down, commanded his fastball better. At times, had a real
sharp slider."
Rangers right-handed pitcher Roman Mendez and left-hander Ryan
Feierabend held the lead for Williams before giving way to Feliz.
Feliz retired Cespedes before allowing two runners on with one out
in the ninth.
The Rangers' right-hander, though, induced a fly out from first
baseman Stephen Vogt and a 3-4-1 groundout from catcher Derek
Norris.
Instead of an average fastball in the mid-90s that he threw before
being injured, Feliz now needs a better mix of pitches with an
average fastball now in the low-90s.
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"Nefty is not the same pitcher he was before he got hurt," Texas
manager Ron Washington said. "What he is, he's been in the closer
role before. I'm more than certain before it's over with he'll get
him some strikeouts.
"As long as he gets outs that's all that matters and he's going to
have to pitch to do it and he's learning how to do that."
Williams retired 15 of the first 17 hitters he faced, pitching
around doubles in each of the first two innings.
He found some trouble the third time around Oakland's order in the
sixth after giving up hits to lead off the inning.
With one out, Cespedes drove in second baseman Eric Sogard with a
single to left, but designated hitter John Jaso was thrown out
trying to advance to third. Outfielder Brandon Moss flied out to
left field to end the threat.
"That's probably a little aggressive," Melvin said. "He knows that.
He's trying to make something happen. We didn't have a whole lot
going on."
Aducci, who doubled to lead off the second, scored on Arencibia's
single to left, and Rios drove in Elvis Andrus, whose triple started
the third.
"We just got beat," Melvin said. "Any major-league team can beat you
at any time. This is a team we've had a lot of battles with."
NOTES: The Rangers purchased the contract of RHP Jerome Williams
from Triple-A Round Rock and assigned OF Jake Smolinski to the
15-day disabled list. To make room on the 40-man roster, the club
released pitcher Justin Marks. ... The Rangers activated LHP Joseph
Ortiz (fractured foot) off the 60-day disabled list and optioned him
to Double-A Frisco. To make room on the 40-man roster, the team
transferred Kevin Kouzmanoff (back surgery) from the 15-day DL to
the 60-day DL. ... Oakland acquired RHP Deck McGuire on Friday from
the Toronto Blue Jays for cash considerations. McGuire, a former
first-round draft pick who is 6-9 with a 4.21 ERA in 20 starts
between Double-A New Hampshire and Triple -A Buffalo, will be
optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
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