(Sports Network) – Jorge Cantu picked a good time to belt his first home run in a Rangers uniform, breaking a tie game in the eighth inning with a two-out solo blast to help Texas clinch its first AL West title since 1999 with a 4-3 victory over Oakland.
Texas closer Neftali Feliz recorded the final out in the eighth and worked around a one-out double by Jeremy Hermida in the ninth to earn his 38th save of the season, surpassing the major league record for a rookie set by the Mariners’ Kazuhiro Sasaki in 2000.
Elvis Andrus scored on a wild pitch by Henry Rodriguez to put the Rangers up 3-1 in the seventh. Oakland tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Cliff Pennington launched a two-run homer to left field off Clay Rapada.
In the eighth, Cantu crushed 3-2 offering from Michael Wuertz (2-3) to left- center.
The Athletics pushed home a run in the first inning when Kurt Suzuki grounded into a fielder's choice, plating Rajai Davis, who led off with a single, stole second and advanced to third on a ground ball.
Michael Young homered to left field leading off the third against Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez, and Cantu singled home Ian Kinsler in the sixth to give Texas a 2-1 lead.
Game Notes
Gonzalez gave up two runs and seven hits in six innings...Oakland will miss the playoffs for the fourth straight year...The Rangers and A's have split 18 games this season.