ARLINGTON -- The A's shook off sweltering 100-degree temps and got most of their work done early Sunday evening in a five-run second inning that fueled their 9-3 series-clinching victory over the Rangers.A three-run fifth only further separated them from the last-place Rangers, who were handed their 64th loss on the same day the A's recorded their 65th victory, the most in the Majors. 
The Angels kept pace, though, with a win over the Tigers, remaining just two games behind the A's in the American League West.When not scoreboard-watching, the A's are padding their remarkable run differential, which sits at a Major League-best 170.On Sunday they didn't even need a homer, instead stringing together some walks and timely hits to force Texas starter Miles Mikolas out of the game after just 4 2/3 innings.Lefty Scott Kazmir only went five innings, but he gave up just two runs to keep his ERA at 2.37 and pick up his 12th win, which ties Sonny Gray for the team lead.Batterymate John Jaso got things going in the second with an RBI single, setting up an RBI double from Stephen Vogt, who later scored on a two-run double off the bat of Yoenis Cespedes.The hot-hitting Jaso remained in the game to face a lefty in the fifth, rewarding manager Bob Melvin's decision with a two-run double off Ryan Feierabend, giving him 10 RBIs since the break.Eric Sogard contributed with an RBI double in the same inning, and the A's would add on in the sixth courtesy a run-scoring single from Josh Reddick, who finished with three hits to improve to 8-for-21 since coming off the disabled list.Lefty Eric O'Flaherty relieved Kazmir in the sixth and compiled 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Cook finished the seventh, and Evan Scribner allowed a solo homer to Adrian Beltre in the eighth in advance of Fernando Abad's shutout ninth.Jane Lee / MLB.com
The Angels kept pace, though, with a win over the Tigers, remaining just two games behind the A's in the American League West.When not scoreboard-watching, the A's are padding their remarkable run differential, which sits at a Major League-best 170.On Sunday they didn't even need a homer, instead stringing together some walks and timely hits to force Texas starter Miles Mikolas out of the game after just 4 2/3 innings.Lefty Scott Kazmir only went five innings, but he gave up just two runs to keep his ERA at 2.37 and pick up his 12th win, which ties Sonny Gray for the team lead.Batterymate John Jaso got things going in the second with an RBI single, setting up an RBI double from Stephen Vogt, who later scored on a two-run double off the bat of Yoenis Cespedes.The hot-hitting Jaso remained in the game to face a lefty in the fifth, rewarding manager Bob Melvin's decision with a two-run double off Ryan Feierabend, giving him 10 RBIs since the break.Eric Sogard contributed with an RBI double in the same inning, and the A's would add on in the sixth courtesy a run-scoring single from Josh Reddick, who finished with three hits to improve to 8-for-21 since coming off the disabled list.Lefty Eric O'Flaherty relieved Kazmir in the sixth and compiled 1 1/3 scoreless innings. Ryan Cook finished the seventh, and Evan Scribner allowed a solo homer to Adrian Beltre in the eighth in advance of Fernando Abad's shutout ninth.Jane Lee / MLB.com
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