By Daniel Dullum

Now that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have clinched the American League West Division crown, all that’s left for the Oakland Athletics to play for is a shot at the AL Wild Card play-in game.

Even that hope is slipping away.

On Thursday, Texas defeated the Athletics 7-2 before 17,574 at the Coliseum, giving the Rangers – the fourth-place team in the AL West with MLB’s worst record (60-92) – a three-game sweep. The loss dropped Oakland one-half game behind Kansas City for the first Wild Card berth.

As recently as August 15, the Athletics had the best record in Major League Baseball. Now, the A’s have lost six of their last eight starts while the Rangers are on a six-game winning streak.

A’s starter Sonny Gray (13-9) gave up four Texas runs in the first inning, and his winless streak for starters extended to five games. Winning pitcher Nick Martinez (4-11) gave up two runs on three hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Texas collected 15 hits, including an RBI double by Leonys Martin. Two-out RBI hits by Jake Smolinski, Tomas Telis and Ryan Rue capped the Rangers’ four-run first inning.

Smolinski collected four hits, as the Texas rookies went 9-for-22 on the day.

Oakland picked up its two runs on a triple by Sam Fuld in the third inning.

This weekend, the Athletics try to hang on to their hopes of at least playing in the Wild Card game as Philadelphia visits the Coliseum for a three-game series. Lefthander Jon Lester (15-10) takes the mound on Friday for Oakland.

A’s MOVE TRIPLE-A OUTPOST TO MUSIC CITY
Earlier on Thursday, the Athletics announced that Nashville, Tennessee, is the new home for the club’s Triple-A affiliate for 2015, replacing Sacramento after 15 years with the River Cats.

Oakland will be the seventh Major League team to use the Nashville Sounds as their top minor league affiliate.

The A’s and Sounds have agreed on a four-year player development contract. The Sounds will play in new First Tennessee Park, and signed a 30-year lease with the City of Nashville, which owns the new ballpark.

First Tennessee Park will have a seating capacity of 10,000, and is built on the site of old Sulphur Dell Park, where Negro League and minor league teams played from the 19th century until 1963.