C.J. Wilson pitched six effective innings to earn his first win in a month and the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 9-1 on Friday night.
Wilson, who said this week he hates pitching in Oakland, allowed a run and four hits, struck out seven and walked three. He was 0-2 with a 4.84 ERA in four starts since his last victory, on July 16 at Seattle.
Endy Chavez had three hits, scored twice and drove in a run as the Rangers won for just the third time in their last nine road games. Michael Young added two hits and an RBI.
AL West-leading Texas remained two games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels, who won 5-1 in Toronto.
Brandon McCarthy (5-6) was knocked out of the game when he was struck by Chavez's line drive in the fourth, sidelined by a bruised right knee.
The ball hit off the outside of his right knee and ricocheted into the visiting bullpen down the right-field line.
Trystan Magnuson replaced McCarthy, who allowed seven runs, five earned, and eight hits in 3 1-3 innings.
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The Rangers grabbed control with six runs in the second inning. The first six batters reached against McCarthy, who also was hurt by some shoddy defense.
Young hit a leadoff triple and scored on Nelson Cruz's base hit. Mike Napoli reached on an error by shortstop Cliff Pennington before Mitch Moreland and Yorvit Torrealba had consecutive RBI singles. Chavez, Elvis Andrus and Josh Hamilton also drove in a run in the inning.
After McCarthy left the game in the fourth, Kinsler and Young each singled home a run. Another run scored on an error by right fielder David DeJesus.
Wilson seemed to enjoy the extra attention he received from the 20,288 fans in attendance, who booed his every step before the game. The left-hander said Wednesday that he didn't like the mound or weather in Oakland, and was critical of the attendance for A's games.
Wilson retired 17 of his first 21 batters before back-to-back doubles from Josh Willingham and Conor Jackson produced the A's only run.
NOTES: Young extended his hitting streak to 11 games. Torrealba extended his streak to 10 games. ... The A's six-game losing streak to the Rangers is the longest since a nine-game streak between June 19-Sept. 30, 1986. ... RHP Trevor Cahill will take the mound for the A's on Saturday. He is 8-3 with a 2.19 ERA in 12 career starts against Texas, including a 2-1 record with a 1.25 ERA in three starts this year. ... Former Athletics pitcher Colby Lewis starts for the Rangers on Saturday. He's allowed 11 runs over his last 18 innings but is 5-1 with a 3.11 ERA over his last 10 starts. He's allowed 28 home runs, second in the majors. Lewis is 4-1 with a 2.53 ERA in seven career starts in Oakland, pitching at least five innings and allowing three runs or less in all seven starts. ... The A's hired former major league manager Phil Garner as a special adviser. ... The A's announced they agreed to terms with INF B.A. Vollmuth, their third-round draft pick.
