Rangers Rocked In Finale, Leave Oakland With A Split

Brandon McCarthy was cruising right along for three innings. He had spoken openly about his desire to give Texas at least seven strong innings the way Millwood and Padilla had done the last two games.

Jack Cust had other plans for McCarthy's day.

After loading the bases in the 4th, McCarthy served up a grand slam homerun to Cust, Oakland's biggest power threat.

"It feels good," Cust said. "In that situation, bases loaded, nobody out, there's not a lot of pressure on the hitter. You've just got to basically hit a ball in the air. That's what I was trying to do. I wasn't trying to hit a home run."



After a solo homerun by Chris Davis made the score 4-1, Oakland came back in the bottom of the 5th and hit another homerun, this time a 3- run shot off the bat of the struggling Matt Holiday. Brandon McCarthy did not retire a batter in the 5th inning.

"I feel like it's coming along pretty good," Holliday said of his swing. "The last couple days I felt pretty good. I definitely think that confidence is an important part of this game, and when ... five or six guys have good at-bats, confidence is high for all those guys, and it carries over."

Ron Washington wrapped the game up into a nice, neat package.

"They beat us today," Washington said. "A grand slam home run ... a three-run home run. They swung the bats today."

Oakland starting pitcher Trevor Cahill pitched well, stringing out Texas' hits, keeping them from striking with men on base. Today's win was the first of his Major League career.

"I just went after them today. When I did got behind, I didn't give in," said Cahill.

Despite a late charge which saw Texas plate three runs in the top of the 9th off reliever Brad Ziegler, the Rangers offense looked confused and out of sorts.

"We let him slip away," said Marlon Byrd, who went 2 for 3 with 2 doubles. "First time facing a young guy ... he had different stuff, a knuckleball, a little slider, pretty good changeup. We need to make adjustments the next time we face him. If we give Brandon some runs early, things might have been different. He could have pitched more aggressively. Pitching has been keeping us in there, it's time for the offense to pick things up."