(Photo: Jerome Miron, USA TODAY Sports)

By Pearl Allison Lo

Scott Kazmir broke a four-game losing streak to bring Oakland one game away from playoff security, as they topped the Texas Rangers 6-2 Friday.

Kazmir issued a similar line to his start on 9/11, but got the win this time as he went seven innings, giving up four hits and one earned run.  Two of Kazmir’s strikeouts came when a runner was on second base. No opposing player got more than one hit.

The A’s Josh Reddick provided the pivotal offense. After going 0-for-5 Thursday, he had three RBIs, the most he’s had since May 16.

The Rangers coach went to the mound four times. Nick Tepesch issued four walks and five earned runs in 4.1 innings, but only one of the issued walks resulted in a run.

Texas’ Leonys Martin used his speed to steal second for the second game in a row, after leading off with a single in the bottom of the first. That put him in position to score after Ryan Rua hit a double, the only time the Rangers led.

The A’s went ahead for good in the top of the third. Eric Sogard walked after one out and Coco Crisp reached on an error by Adam Rosales. An Adam Dunn double brought Sogard and Crisp home to make it 2-1.

Reddick led off the fourth with a homer for the game winning run, to make it 3-1.

The top of the fifth was the worst inning for the Rangers. With one out, Josh Donaldson singled and Brandon Moss walked. There was a coach visit at the mound, then Jed Lowrie doubled to make it 4-1. Tepesch left for Robbie Ross Jr. before another coach visit, but Reddick hit a two-run single to make it 6-1.

Texas’ last run started with an error in the bottom of the fifth.

1-2-3 innings ensued until the end of the game with the exception of the bottom of the ninth.

Game notes: Donaldson hurt his knee in the third inning but played the whole game. Oakland will be gunning against the Rangers again tomorrow at 5:05pm and Sunday.