Thursday, September 26, 1996

Rangers head back to Texas on winning note
By ROB GLOSTER
Associated Press

OAKLAND, Calif. - In less than 90 hours, the Texas Rangers went from a team desperately clinging to a shrinking lead in the AL West to a club savoring its run toward the franchise's first division title.

Mickey Tettleton hit a two-run homer and Dean Palmer added a two-run single as the Rangers reduced their magic number in the AL West to four with a 7-3 victory Tuesday over the Oakland Athletics.

The Rangers began the day with a two-game lead over the Seattle Mariners, who played at California on Tuesday night.

While the Mariners will have to play again today at California before heading to Oakland for four games, the Rangers headed home for a day off Wednesday and then a four-game series against California.

"We're in control now. We're going back home," Palmer said. "I think everyone's relieved to come out of this road trip. Everyone's just looking forward to getting back home and relaxing a bit."

Texas finished 3-6 on the West Coast swing - its last road trip of the regular season - after losing the first five games.

Four straight defeats in Seattle and a loss last Friday night at California chopped the Rangers' lead over the Mariners to one game. But the Rangers won their final two games at California and split a two-game series with the A's.

"I think the atmosphere is different than when we left Seattle," Texas manager Johnny Oates said. "Now we can go home and get a chance to do what needs to be done at home."

Tettleton's 24th homer of the season broke a 1-1 tie in the fourth. Palmer's two-run single came in a three-run fifth. Rusty Greer added an RBI double in the sixth. Juan Gonzalez had singled in a run in the first.

Dennis Cook (5-2), the third of five pitchers, got six straight outs - including three strikeouts - for the win. He came in to strike out pinch-hitter Brian Lesher with men on first and third and two outs in the fifth after Oakland already had scored two runs in the inning.

Texas starter Roger Pavlik gave up three runs and four hits in 41/3 innings.

Geronimo Berroa drove in two runs for the A's with a bases-loaded groundout in the first and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Mark McGwire had a bases-loaded walk to drive in a run in the fifth.

Aaron Small (0-3), making his second career start, allowed six runs and nine hits in 4 1-3 innings. The A's made four errors, including two by shortstop Mike Bordick.

"We didn't play well behind Small," Oakland manager Art Howe said, "but he's got to get some outs himself."

The Rangers finished the season 40-41 on the road, having lost seven of their last 10 road games. It marked Texas' fourth straight losing road record, and the 21st in 25 years for the Rangers.

If the Rangers and Baltimore Orioles end the season tied for the wild-card spot, a playoff game would be held at Baltimore. That was determined Tuesday with a coin toss in the office of AL President Gene Budig.