OAKLAND -- It's already been a crazy race between the A's and Texas Rangers in 2013, and it looks as though it's going to get wilder and wackier over the final two months.
On May 15, Texas led the American League West by seven games. By July 26, there had been a 13-game swing, with the A's opening up a six-game advantage.
Now it appears to be swinging back the other way again -- and quickly.
The Rangers came into a sold-out Coliseum on Friday night (35,067) riding a four-game winning streak and promptly walloped Oakland 8-3.
Texas' recent run has shaved the A's seemingly comfortable six-game lead to just 2? games in just four days.
"They've played us well all year," said Brandon Moss, whose two-run double in the first inning turned out to be Oakland's biggest hit of the night. "They've definitely had our number a little bit. We need to come out and win some games against them and get some confidence going."
Indeed, the Rangers have won seven of 11 this season from the A's, who have lost three straight games for the first time since early May.
On this night, Texas pounded Tommy Milone (9-9) for nine hits and six runs in just 3?2/3 innings. Nelson Cruz and Jurickson Profar each hit two-run home runs off the A's left-hander.
This could be just the start of the bad news for the A's. If the Rangers can get out of town by winning the series, they're set up nicely for a longer haul -- they'll play 24 consecutive games against teams with losing records before they return to Oakland again on Sept. 2.
The A's, by contrast, will play teams with winning records 15 of the next 24 games after this series.
Milone started the game like he was locked in -- all 10 pitches he threw in the first inning were strikes, and he was hitting his spots. But it all went downhill from there.
"Pretty terrible," Milone said. "I felt fine early on, in the bullpen and the first inning. Even the second inning, I only made one bad pitch (the Cruz homer). But from the third on, it just kind of escalated. I started leaving balls out over the plate. A couple big hits, and there's six runs."
Milone, who fell to 0-4 against the Rangers in five career starts, didn't survive the fourth inning. Craig Gentry lined a one-out double past third baseman Josh Donaldson, and rookie Profar followed with his fourth homer of the year, a line shot over the left field fence. Dan Otero replaced Milone with two outs in the inning.
Oakland got one run back in the bottom of the fourth on a Josh Reddick leadoff walk and a run-scoring double to right by Coco Crisp.
But early on, the A's were squandering more opportunities than they were cashing in against erratic Texas starter Alexi Ogando,
Ogando threw 60 pitches and walked four batters in the first two innings alone, but the A's could manage only the two runs. In the third, they had first-and-third with one out after back-to-back singles by Yoenis Cespedes and Moss, but Donaldson -- who hasn't had an RBI since the All-Star break -- hit into a double play.
Ogando was gone after four innings having thrown 92 pitches, and the A's subsequently loaded the bases against his relief, left-hander Robbie Ross. Jed Lowrie opened the inning with a single, and after two were out, Donaldson singled and Reddick walked. But pinch-hitter Alberto Callaspo flied out to center against reliever Jason Frasor (2-2) to end Oakland's last legitimate threat.
The A's left 10 men on base and are now 1 for 19 with runners in scoring position the past two games.
"There were some opportunities for us that we didn't cash in, and on the flip side, they did cash in on their opportunities," manager Bob Melvin said.
"I was shocked but excited at the same time," Rosales said. "It's obviously bittersweet. I was with the A's for four years. I felt like I grew up a lot. But this is great. I'm ready for this new chapter in my baseball life."
Even though Rosales now plays for a division rival, the A's were happy for him.
"We'd probably rather he be in a different uniform, with someone in the National League that we don't play," Melvin said. "But everybody's pretty fond of Rosie, and the fact that he's back in the big leagues again is good for him."
Saturday's game
Texas (Matt Garza 1-0) at A's
(Jarrod Parker 6-6), 1:05 p.m. FOX
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