Hamilton, Davis power the Rangers to win over A's

OAKLAND, Calif. - Josh Hamilton piled up RBIs throughout the first half and reached 100 for the first time in his career Friday night.

The Texas Rangers slugger is ready to add to his impressive total, too.

Hamilton hit a two-run homer to reach the century mark in his 99th game of the season and Texas overcame a five-run deficit to beat the Oakland Athletics 14-6.

"It's nice to get it under your belt, especially the first one," Hamilton said with a grin. "We just try to hit the ball hard all the time and we feed off each other."

Chris Davis added three hits and a home run for Texas, which won for the fifth time in seven games and moved into second in the AL West. Vicente Padilla (12-5) went six innings for his second win in as many starts since coming off the disabled list.

"You can't hold us down for long," outfielder Marlon Byrd said.

A's reliever Brad Ziegler pitched 1 1-3 scoreless innings to match Philadelphia Phillies right-hander George McQuillan's 101-year-old major league record with 25 scoreless innings at the start of a career.

"There are a lot of major league pitchers who have made their debuts since 1907," Ziegler said. "Hopefully I can get an out before I give up a run. It's exciting one way or another."

Jack Hannahan drove in two runs for Oakland, which has lost eight of nine to fall into third. The A's are a half-game behind the Rangers and 11 back of the division-leading Los Angeles Angels.

Hamilton capped off Texas' five-run fourth with his 23rd homer, hitting Sean Gallagher's first pitch over the right-field fence to tie it at 5.

David Murphy also hit a two-run homer in the inning and Michael Young had a sacrifice fly.

"I think rhythm-wise it got us back in the ballgame," Rangers manager Ron Washington said.

The Rangers went ahead for good in the seventh. Davis reached on a one-out double against Jerry Blevins (0-1), who struck out Jarrod Saltalamacchia before Ziegler entered and surrendered a go-ahead RBI single to Ian Kinsler.

Texas added a season-high eight runs against Alan Embree and Andrew Brown in the ninth, two on Davis' homer.

"It was an ugly finish," A's manager Bob Geren said. "We went into the last inning one run down."

Padilla, who threw seven shutout innings in Minnesota on Sunday, gave up five runs and seven hits. He struck out nine after fanning eight in his previous four starts combined.

"After we scored five runs he started locating better," Geren said. "He's a tough pitcher and he settled down."

The A's scored five runs in the third on five hits and a walk. Hannahan had a two-run single, Bobby Crosby walked with the bases loaded and Carlos Gonzalez and Brooks Conrad had RBI singles. It was Conrad's first major league hit and RBI.

Gallagher lasted 5 1-3 innings, allowing five runs - one earned - and nine hits. He walked five and struck out five.

Notes: A's slugger Jack Cust walked once and struck out four times to extend his AL lead in both categories to 73 and 130 respectively. ... Texas RHP Joaquin Benoit (right shoulder) faced five batters, allowing three hits, walking two and throwing a wild pitch, in his first rehab appearance for Double-A Frisco. Benoit threw 20 pitches, nine for strikes. Veteran MLB umpire Randy Marsh, also on rehab, was behind the plate. ... Conrad was hitless in his first 11 at-bats before singling in the third. ... A's DH Frank Thomas (right quadriceps) ran for the first time since he went on the DL. ... A's RHP Joey Devine threw a simulated game and is slated for a rehab start on Monday. ... The A's allowed their most runs in a game and an inning. ... Padilla has a five-game winning streak against the A's.