Andrus, AL West Champ Rangers Get By A's 5-0
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OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The lone veteran in the lineup a day after Texas won another AL West title, Elvis Andrus hit a pair of two-run homers in the Rangers' 5-0 victory against the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.
Yu Darvish (6-5) had all the run support he needed on a couple of big swings from Andrus, who had his first career multi-homer game. Andrus, who volunteered to play and will get a break Sunday, also established career highs for homers with eight and RBIs with 68.
Darvish allowed only Stephen Vogt's two-out single in the first until Yonder Alonso singled with one out in the fifth. Marcus Semien followed with a walk, but Darvish escaped unscathed.
Manager Jeff Banister rested his regulars aside from right fielder Nomar Mazara and Andrus, who had his second career four-RBI game.
Robinson Chirinos added an RBI double in the ninth for Texas (92-63), which moved 29 games above .500 for the first time since exactly four years ago on Sept. 24, 2012.
Darvish had been 0-3 on the road, winning for the first time in seven away starts, but he had no-decisions in his last three. Darvish allowed two hits, struck out nine and walked one in seven innings a day after Texas became the first AL team to clinch a playoff spot with its second straight division title and seventh AL West title overall.
Three relievers finished the five-hit shutout. Darvish had lost to the A's his previous time out, allowing seven runs over five innings in an 11-2 loss last Saturday in Arlington.
A's rookie Raul Alcantara (1-2), someone manager Bob Melvin considers a candidate for the rotation next season, struck out six with one walk over six innings. He allowed four runs on seven hits and has surrendered five home runs in four major league starts.
Oakland had the bases loaded in the eighth but Vogt flied out.
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