Derek Norris hit a grand slam with two outs in the top of the ninth, capping a five-run rally and lifting the Oakland Athletics to an 11-7 victory over the Texas Rangers on Thursday.
Jemile Weeks homered from both side of the plate, singled and walked and Chad Pennington went 4 for 4 with a double for the A's.
Weeks led off the game with a drive to left-center off Rangers starter Martin Perez and then homered to right-center with two outs in the fourth against right-hander Neil Ramirez.
Texas was without manager Ron Washington, who left the team following a death in the family. He's expected to return for the Rangers' weekend series in Las Vegas.
Both starting pitchers struggled.
Oakland's Brad Peacock lasted only 2 1-3 innings, giving up five runs on five hits and three walks with one strikeout and needing 61 pitches to get eight outs.
Perez went two innings, giving up two runs on five hits and a pair of walks. The left-hander struck out three.
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"Sometimes I just got in my head a little bit," Perez said. "You ask me what I need to do, and that's what I need to do. When I struggle I get a little overanxious and that's been my problem when I'm behind in the count. I tried to locate my pitches but I was a little desperate and anxious."
Ian Kinsler homered in the fourth inning for the Rangers.
NOTES: Rangers OF Josh Hamilton, who left Wednesday's game after jamming his right heel chasing down a double, returned to the lineup and went 0 for 3. Hamilton has three hits in 21 at-bats this spring. . A's CF Yoenis Cespedes went 1 for 4 with a strikeout. . Rangers C Mike Napoli missed his sixth straight game with a strained left groin muscle but resumed some catching activities.
