OAKLAND — The Athletics snapped a three-game losing streak utilizing extra-base power and the luxury of using closer Mason Miller with a five-run lead in the first game of a doubleheader Wednesday at the Coliseum. Shea Langeliers drove in five runs with a homer, a homer, triple and double and Miller went the last two scoreless innings to preserve a 9-4 win against the Texas Rangers. The Athletics, who also got home runs from Brett Harris (his third) and Brent Rooker (his ninth), improved to 18-20.
Oakland had eight extra-base hits in all. Winning pitcher J.P.
Sears (3-2) was lifted by manager Mark Kotsay with a one-run lead and two outs in the sixth after giving up a single to Andrew Knizner. He gave up seven hits and four earned runs with a walk and three strikeouts. Sears threw 88 pitches, 56 of which were strikes.
“It was one of the grittier ones, one of thos edays you have to go in and feel OK with your body,” Sears said between games. “You hope that those are the days that the offense played like it did today. We had a lot of good defense today and were swinging the bats really well on our side.
” Miller, who was warming up to come in with a 6-4 lead, lost a save opportunity when Rooker hit a three-run home run, but he came on to finish off Texas after not having pitched since May 1 and a save against Pittsburgh. Austin Adams pitched 1 1/3 innings as the set-up bridge to Miller. Miller retired the side in order in both innings with four strikeouts, getting Marcu.
