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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- David Segui delivered the key hit and Mike Venafro delivered the key pitch. Combined they ended the Texas Rangers' road woes.
Segui's two-run double highlighted a five-run fifth inning and Rick Helling snapped a six-game losing streak as the Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 5-3 Wednesday night.
Venafro pitched out of a bases-loaded jam to preserve the lead.
Ivan Rodriguez, Rafael Palmeiro and Dave Martinez each had two
hits and an RBI for the Rangers, who won for just the second time
in 11 road games. Texas still has the second-worst road record in
the AL at 13-22.
"It was certainly a great inning to catch up and take the
lead," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "Venafro was throwing.
Helling was sloppy, but effective."
Helling (8-7) allowed three runs on five hits and six walks in 5
2/3 innings, winning for the first time since May 23 at Kansas
City. John Wetteland got the final two outs for his 19th save in 23
opportunities.
"We all feel we can play like this every day and not every
other day," Wetteland said. "The lack of consistency is costing
us the season."
A's starter Kevin Appier (8-4) went seven innings, allowing five
runs on eight hits. Appier, 5-0 in his last seven starts, lost for
the first time since May 13 against Seattle.
"They did a good job of hitting," Appier said. "I had good
location, but I didn't have the stuff to close them down. I wasn't
able to hold them."
The Rangers batted around in the fifth, scoring five times, all
with two outs, to turn a three-run deficit into a 5-3 advantage.
"Sometimes that third out is real difficult to get," A's
manager Art Howe said. "It seemed like they fouled off good
pitches and finally got something to hit. That was a quality at-bat
by Segui. He fouled out a lot of tough pitches."
With two outs in the sixth, the A's loaded the bases on a double
by Tejada and consecutive walks to Sal Fasano and Terrence Long.
Venafro replaced Helling and got Randy Velarde to ground out to end
the threat.
"That was the one key at-bat and he got the out," Howe said.
"Their bullpen shut us down. We couldn't muster any offense."
Venafro allowed one hit in a perfect 2 1/3 innings of relief.
"I got lucky and got the ground ball," Venafro said. "That's
what I try to do every time. I'm not a strikeout pitcher."
Miguel Tejada doubled twice and drove in a pair of runs for the
A's, who lost for just the second time in 13 games.
In the fourth, Tejada's two-run double and a run-scoring single
by Long gave the A's a 3-0 lead.
Game notes
Rangers 2B Luis Alicea was scratched from the starting
lineup because of continuing problems with tightness in his lower
back. Alicea hasn't played since Sunday. ... Long's single extended
his career-best hitting streak to 16 games, longest by a rookie
this season and a team high. ... Rusty Greer went 0-for-5, snapping his consecutive multihit streak at nine games. ... Oakland INF Olmedo Saenz, who left Tuesday night's game with tightness in his left hamstring, wasn't in the starting lineup Wednesday. Howe said Saenz was available. ... The six-game losing streak was the longest in Helling's career and the longest by a Rangers pitcher since
Nolan Ryan and Bobby Witt each did it in 1992.
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