BY PAUL GACKLE

SAN FRANCISCO — Scott Kazmir made his case for being the American League’s starting pitcher at the 2014 All-Star game in Minneapolis next week, throwing seven shutout innings on Thursday as the Oakland A’s picked up a series win over their cross-bay rivals at AT&T Park.

With a 6-1 win over the Giants, Kazmir is now tied for the second in the AL in wins (11), he’s third among starters in earned run average (2.38) and third in WHIP (0.98).

“He’s been as consistent as anyone in the league,” A’s Manager Bob Melvin said.

Kazmir (11-3), who’s only two years removed from being out of the majors completely, put together his best performance of the season, surrendering only three hits while tying a season high with nine strikeouts. With another stellar outing, Kazmir’s now allowed one run or fewer in 11 of his 19 starts this season.

“They seem like they’re all the same to me,” Melvin said, referring to Kazmir’s starts this season. “He gives up, it seems like zero, one or two runs, and gets you deep in the game.”

After keeping the Giants hitless through four innings, Kazmir ran into a bit of trouble in the fifth with the A’s ahead 2-0. First, Michael Morse singled and then Gregor Blanco smacked a two-out double to the right field wall.

But with runners on second and third, Giants manager Bruce Bochy allowed pitcher Tim Hudson to bat — rather than sending out a pinch hitter — and Kazmir escaped the jam by inducing a long fly wall to the base of the warning track in center field.

The A’s made Bochy pay for the decision in the sixth, chasing Hudson (7-6) out of the game with four consecutive extra-base hits, three doubles and an opposite field home run over the brick wall in right by Josh Donaldson.

“To kind of be under [the baseball] and behind it a little bit and not extend it and still hit it out up top there means you’re awfully strong,” Melvin said, referring to Donaldson’s blast over Levi’s Landing at AT&T Park.

Stephen Vogt put an exclamation point on the rally later in the inning, stretching the lead to 6-0 with a two-out single to center, scoring Jed Lowrie and Alberto Callaspo.

Vogt, who’s riding a career-high 10-game hitting streak, went 2-for-5 with three RBI. He also picked up an RBI single in the fifth.

“His at bats have been phenomenal,” Melvin said, referring to Vogt, who played first base on Thursday. “His versatility has been — we’ve really needed it here with some of the injuries we’ve had, so he’s been a star for us.”

Donaldson snapped out of a 3-for-23 slump in the contest, picking up two hits in three at bats while driving in a pair of runs. Prior to the game, the All-Star third baseman learned that he will be participating in this year’s Home Run Derby at Target Field on Monday.

“For me, it just kind of adds icing to the cake,” Donaldson said. “Hopefully, I’ll go out there and put on a show.”