Hicks’ first home run carries A’s past Rangers

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OAKLAND, Calif. — Brandon Hicks led off the bottom of the ninth with his first major league homer, lifting Oakland to a 4-3 victory over Texas on Wednesday.

OAKLAND, Calif. — Brandon Hicks led off the bottom of the ninth with his first major league homer, lifting Oakland to a 4-3 victory over Texas on Wednesday.

Hicks connected off Michael Kirkman (0-1) for Oakland’s major league-leading ninth walkoff win. He became the fourth player in franchise history to hit a game-ending homer with his first career shot and the second this year — Derek Norris did it June 25 against San Francisco.

Josh Reddick hit a tying two-run double in the seventh for the A’s, who split the series with the AL West-leading Rangers.

Evan Scribner and Sean Doolittle each pitched a perfect inning, and All-Star Ryan Cook (3-2) worked the ninth for the win.

Michael Young hit a go-ahead RBI single in the sixth for the Rangers.

Craig Gentry hit an RBI double, and Nelson Cruz added a run-scoring single for Texas.

YANKEES 6, JAYS 0 (6 1/2)

NEW YORK — Hiroki Kuroda pitched four-hit ball, and Mark Teixeira hit a two-run homer in a four-run first inning as New York completed the sweep with a rain-shortened victory.

The game was called after a 58-minute rain delay before the Yankees could come to bat in the seventh. The game was delayed 51 minutes at the start.

Nick Swisher and Andruw Jones had run-scoring hits in the first, and Dewayne Wise had two RBIs. The Yankees handed Ricky Romero (8-6) his career-worst fifth straight loss and beat Toronto for the eighth straight time in the Bronx.

TIGERS 7, ANGELS 2

DETROIT — Doug Fister gave up two hits over eight innings, and Prince Fielder capped a four-run second with a two-run single for Detroit.

Fister (4-6) allowed one run on Albert Pujols’ homer, struck out a season-high 10 and walked two for his third straight win.

Joaquin Benoit replaced him in the ninth and gave up a one-out triple to Mike Trout, who scored on Torii Hunter’s groundout.

Angels starter C.J. Wilson (9-6) gave up a season-high seven runs, eight hits and five walks while striking out seven over six innings, extending his winless streak to three starts.

Pujols hit a two-out solo homer, his 17th, in the first inning to give Los Angeles its only lead — which didn’t last long. Delmon Young made it 1-all in the home half.

RED SOX 10, WHITE SOX 1

BOSTON — Cody Ross hit three-run homers in consecutive innings, and Felix Doubront pitched six solid innings for Boston.

Adrian Gonzalez added a solo homer and drove in four runs, and Jacoby Ellsbury had three hits for the Red Sox.

Paul Konerko had an RBI single and walked twice for the White Sox, who lost for the fourth time in 12 games.

The Red Sox have won two of three in the four-game series, which concludes Thursday night.

INDIANS 10, RAYS 6

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Carlos Santana hit a three-run homer during Cleveland’s five-run seventh inning.

Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera hit two-out singles off Kyle Farnsworth (0-2) before Jason Kipnis’ RBI single against Jake McGee tied it at 4. After Michael Brantley had a run-scoring single, Santana extended the lead to 8-4 with his first homer since May 15.

Kipnis and Santana added run-scoring singles in ninth as the Indians went ahead 10-5.

ORIOLES 2, TWINS 1

MINNEAPOLIS — Adam Jones hit a two-run homer in the first inning off Francisco Liriano, and Baltimore hung on for the win.

Josh Willingham’s home run in the fourth was all Minnesota could manage against Tommy Hunter (4-4), who returned to Baltimore’s rotation with a solid performance that lasted one out into the eighth inning.

ROYALS 8, MARINERS 7

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Billy Butler homered to lead off the bottom of the ninth inning for Kansas City.

Butler hit a 1-1 pitch from Josh Kinney (0-1) out to left center for his 18th homer. Butler went 3-for-3 and walked twice.