Rangers reap havoc on A’s

The red hot Texas Rangers sweep a three game series from the Oakland A's, their second sweep in a row

Game 1 Texas 7 Oakland 3

“Hip Hip Harrah!”
Texas, coming off a three game sweep of Detroit, looked to continue their climb out of the cellar. Dave Stewart started for Oakland and Joe Coleman took the rock for the Rangers. The first 5 innings were dominated by the pitchers Texas scoring the only run in the second inning on a Sac Fly off the bat of Ruben Sierra. The top of the 6th saw a two-out offensive outburst of 5 Texas runs sparked by a 3-run jack off the bat of Toby Harrah. Orlando Palmeiro added a 2-run 2-out double. Texas added their final run in the top of the 7th on a Jose Canseco solo blast. Oakland scored 2 in the bottom of the 7th on a 2-run HR of the bat of Reggie Jackson and 1 in the 8th on a Billy North single. But 3 runs would be all they would scoe. Jeff Russell pitched a perfect 9th inning to collect his first save.
WP Joe Coleman (3-1) LP D Stewart (3-5) Jeff Russell S (1)

Game 2 Texas 7 Oakland 6

“The Old See-Saw”

Texas beat Oakland in 10 innings 7-6. It was a see-saw battle that saw Texas taking a 2-run lead in the 2nd inning on a 2-run Juan Gonzalez blast which Oakland matched in the bottom of the 3rd on a Terry Steinbach solo Hr and a Vic Power bases loaded ground out. Texas would respond by scoring 2 more in the top of the 4th and Oakland scored 2 in the bottom of the 6th to tie the game up at 4. Oakland would take the lead in the bottom of the 8th when Ricky Henderson hit a 2-run bomb. Oakland would get 3 straight singles after the Henderson blast but would leave the bases loaded. Texas, not to be denied, scored the tying runs on a Buddy Bell ground out and a Orlando Palmeiro double. Juan Gonzalez started the top of the tenth with his 2nd HR of the day and that blast would be enough for Texas to win as there was no more come back in the Oakland A's.
WP Jeff Russell (3-1) LP Eckersley (0-1) Save Darold Knowles (3)

Game 3 Texas 4 Oakland 1

“Kevin Brown Makes the Oakland A's Blue”

Kevin Brown was on his game tonight as he pitched a complete game to finish the Ranger's sweep of the A's. Though Brown scattered 7 hits and walked 3 he was able to keep Oakland off balance when it mattered most. Not much offensive output by either team ,but Texas produced just enough to win. Texas scored its first run in the 3rd inning on a Toby Harrah HR. The Rangers finished their scoring by coming up with a 3-spot in the 5th inning. Buddy Bell  provided the blast that produced the 3 runs. Oakland managed to only score one run in the 6th when little Bert Campaneris popped one out of the yard. That would do it as the last three innings were uneventful. Texas has now won 6 in row and is, for at least the time being, ahead of both Chicago and Oakland.
WP Kevin Brown ( 3-3) LP Catfish Hunter (3-6)

--submitted by Frank Selders--