Rangers best struggling Gaudin, snap losing streak

Rangers 8, Athletics 6

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- Two of the Texas Rangers' major acquisitions at the trade deadline gave their fans some hope that their latest rebuilding effort can be successful.

Jarrod Saltalamacchia drove in the tiebreaking run with a sixth-inning double and Kason Gabbard went six innings to earn his first win with Texas, leading the Rangers to a 8-6 victory over the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night.

Texas acquired Saltalamacchia from the Atlanta Braves and Gabbard from the Boston Red Sox in two major deals on July 31 -- the deadline for making trades without waivers.

"I always have hope," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Those guys have done a great job since coming on."

Mark Ellis homered and had three hits for Oakland. Shannon Stewart also went deep.

The game was tied at 3 when A's starter Chad Gaudin (8-8) walked Nelson Cruz leading off the sixth, and Jason Botts followed with a single.

Saltalamacchia then doubled in Cruz to give the Rangers a 4-3 lead. He is batting .167 (5-for-30) but has three RBIs in seven games as he settles in with his new team.

"The fans are great and the ballpark plays good," he said.

Gerald Laird chased Gaudin with a two-run double, advanced to third on a sacrifice and scored on Frank Catalanotto's double to extend the Rangers' lead to 7-3.

Gabbard (5-1) gave up three runs and five hits, struck out four and walked three in his first home start for Texas, which ended a five-game losing streak.

"I don't have overpowering stuff," Gabbard said. "I just try to go out there and throw strikes and go from there. It always helps when your starter can go out there and throw five, six or seven innings."

Gabbard said he's enjoying his time with his new team.

"The guys have all been welcoming. I'm still trying to learn them and they're trying to learn me. ... I'm with Texas now and I'm going to build my career here."

Gabbard gave up three runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings in his Rangers' debut last week, a 5-0 loss at Cleveland.

C.J. Wilson got four outs for his third save in four chances, and Marlon Byrd homered for the Rangers.

Gaudin lost his fifth straight decision, allowing seven runs and eight hits in five innings. He was 8-3 with a 2.88 ERA on July 5, but hasn't won since.

"He's definitely pitched better than losing five straight decisions," A's manager Bob Geren said. "It seems like one pitch here or there is costing him."

Gaudin said he isn't wearing down despite having already pitched 142 innings, his major league high.

"I feel strong, as good as the first day of the season," Gaudin said. "You can say it's been tough and hard, but it happens in baseball. Sometimes things don't go your way. You've got to go through the bad times."

Ellis led off the fourth with a double and scored on Donnie Murphy's two-out single to give Oakland a 1-0 lead.

Ian Kinsler started the bottom half with a single, Gaudin walked Michael Young, and Byrd hit Gaudin's first pitch into the seats in left-center for his fourth homer of the season.

Ellis hit a two-run drive in the sixth -- his 15th homer of the season -tied it at 3.

Oakland pushed across three runs in the eighth to cut it to 7-6. Kurt Suzuki singled in a run and Stewart had a two-run shot.

Game notes
Temperatures in North Texas are expected to climb toward triple digits later this week, and it was 92 degrees at the first pitch. The A's took batting practice in the air-conditioned indoor cages to escape the heat. ... Both teams were a little weary following Monday night's 13-inning game that took four hours and 33 minutes and was won by the A's, 9-7. ...Ellis' 15 homers ties Dick Green (1965) for third most by a 2B in A's history. Davey Lopes (1983) and Jimmy Dykes (1921) hold the franchise position record with 16.