Texas Rangers

Rangers 9, A's 8 (F)

Hank Blalock went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBI, and C.J. Wilson and Frank Francisco made a one-run lead hold up over the final 2 1/3 innings as the Rangers outlasted Oakland 9-8 at McAfee Coliseum.

The Rangers led 4-0, but saw the A's rally in the fourth to take a 5-4 lead. The Rangers, though, scored four unearned runs in the fifth and added another in the sixth for just enough cushion to win for the second time in three nights against Oakland.

Tommy Hunter improved to 9-4 even though he allowed seven runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

-- Jeff Wilson

Report: Two more bidders identified

A report by Reuters says that Houston businessman Jim Crane and minor-league team owner/sports attorney Chuck Greenberg have submitted bids to Hicks Sports Group to purchase the Rangers. The report also confirms that former agent Dennis Gilbert has submitted a bid, a story that was reported by the Star-Telegram earlier this week.

Crane, a former college pitcher, owns the freight-forwarding company Crane Worldwide Logistics and made a bid for the Cubs. The Tribune Co. has accepted an offer for $845 million to sell one of the most recognizable franchises in the game.

Greenberg owns minor-league teams in Myrtle Beach, S.C., and State College, Pa. He also owns and oversees Greenberg Sports Group, which is a sports consulting firm.

Three other bids have been submitted to HSG. Owner Tom Hicks said in May that he was willing to share his entire stake in the Rangers.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers lead 9-7

The Rangers haven't played one of these -- a scoring fest -- too many times this season, but that's what their third game of the week at Oakland as morphed into after a low-scoring start. The Rangers take a 9-7 lead into the seventh inning after the teams exchanged runs in the sixth.

All seven A's runs came against Tommy Hunter, who almost got out of the sixth unscathed. But David Murphy just missed snaring a two-out bloop double by Mark Ellis. Daric Barton followed with a single to make it 9-7 and end Hunter's night at 5 2/3 innings. Dustin Nippert entered and got Cliff Pennington to end the inning.

Hunter retired the first 10 hitters, but nine of the next 15 had hits. He did it all efficiently, on only 79 pitches.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers move back in front

The Rangers responded with four unearned run in the fifth inning, a rally that started when Elvis Andrus reached on a two-out error, and have shot back in front of Oakland 8-5. Marlon Byrd had a two-run single and scored on a double by Hank Blalock. He scored on a Nelson Cruz single off the glove of shortstop Cliff Pennington, who made the error that opened the door for the Rangers.

-- Jeff Wilson

So much for that lead

Hank Blalock hit a two-run homer in the fourth to stake the Rangers to a 4-0 lead, but Oakland stormed back with five runs in the bottom of the inning and lead 5-4 entering the fifth inning. Tommy Hunter retired the first batter of the inning, giving him 10 straight outs to start the game, but the next five had hits to make it 4-3. Cliff Pennington singled in two more but was thrown out at second to end the inning.

The Rangers have a chance to gain ground on the Angels, who lost for a second straight game earlier today. The Rangers also need to keep an eye on the third-place Mariners, who entered the day only 3 1/2 games back. They lost today, too, so the Rangers can add some cushion with a win tonight. They'll have to rally to do so.

-- Jeff Wilson

Tommy Hunter dealing, Rangers leading after three

The Rangers scored twice in the first inning, once on a sacrifice fly by David Murphy and again on a two-out double by Hank Blalock, and Tommy Hunter has been perfect through three innings as the Rangers lead 2-0 entering the fourth inning.

Hunter has four groundball outs, four flyball outs and one strikeout. He hasn't broken a sweat, but that might be the byproduct of a cool breeze bowling into McAfee Coliseum.

-- Jeff Wilson

Tonight's lineups

A day off for Ian Kinsler, who had played all 36 games since coming off the disabled list. He rests, and Omar Vizquel starts as second base.

Rangers lineup

Julio Borbon, dh

Elvis Andrus, ss

David Murphy, lf

Marlon  Byrd, cf

Hank Blalock, 1b

Nelson Cruz, rf

Chris Davis, 3b

Ivan Rodriguez, c

Omar Vizquel, 2b

Athletics lineup

Adam Kennedy, 3b

Rajai Davis, cf

Ryan Sweeney, rf

Kurt Suzuki, c

Jack Cust, dh

Mark Ellis, 2b

Daric Barton, 1b

Cliff Pennington, ss

Eric Patterson, lf

-- Jeff Wilson

This one is all but over

The A's just ripped Willie Eyre for five runs in the seventh inning and now lead 8-1. Eyre faced seven batters, and six had hits. The only out the right-hander recorded came on a sacrifice bunt after a leadoff double. It looks like it'll be Guillermo Moscoso time in the eighth.

-- Jeff Wilson

McCarthy exits down 3-1

Brandon McCarthy walked Kurt Suzuki to start the sixth inning, and he stole second base as Jack Cust struck out. Cust was McCarthy's final hitter, though, as manager Ron Washington has brought Neftail Feliz in with a runner at second with one out and the Rangers trailing 3-1.

-- Jeff Wilson

Rangers get sloppy in second

Oakland just took a 2-0 lead thanks to another tough time in right field for Nelson Cruz and a lousy throw by Ian Kinsler. Jack Cust was at first base with two outs when Daric Barton sent a line drive toward Cruz, who appeared to break late and then missed as he dove for the ball. Marlon Byrd retrieved the ball and hit Kinsler, who turned and threw wildly toward home. The ball bounded away from Brandon McCarthy, who was backing up the play, and Barton kept on running and slid home safely. Yikes.

The Rangers haven't much -- just a Chris Davis single -- so far against Trevor Cahill, which is nothing new. The rookie allowed only one hit in seven innings last week as the A's completely a three-game sweep at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

-- Jeff Wilson