ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Rookie Mark Teixeira and Carl Everett prevented the Oakland Athletics from making it a perfect 10 against the Texas Rangers
Teixeira belted a three-run homer in the fourth inning and Everett hit a tie-breaking solo shot in the eighth as the Rangers rallied from a four-run deficit and posted a 5-4 victory over the Athletics.
Oakland scored single runs in each of the first four innings and appeared on its way to sweeping the three-game series and beating the Rangers for the 10th straight time.
But the switch-hitting Teixeira, who was 0-for-16 before he got his first major league hit Wednesday, made his first major league home run a clutch one, hitting a three-run blast off lefthander Ted Lilly to pull Texas within 4-3.
"The two hits last night didn't mean anything because we lost, but today with the win it means a lot," said Teixeira, who was 2-for-19 before his home run. "This team is built around scoring runs quick and our bullpen held them down and did a great job."
Texas tied the game in the sixth when Ruben Sierra drew a walk, was sacrificed over by Everett and scored on a two-out single by Michael Young.
Everett then led off the eighth with a home run off reliever Chad Bradford (1-1), pulling a 2-2 pitch just inside the right field foul pole for his first home run of the year.
"I knew the type of pitcher I was facing and it just so happened he threw the pitch I was looking for," Everett said. "I went into two-strike mode and it worked out."
"It should have been up a little more but it was down," Bradford said. "I was hoping it would go foul but it didn't."
Francisco Cordero (1-1) pitched a hitless eighth inning for the win and Ugueth Urbina worked a perfect ninth for his third save.
Texas had lost nine in a row to the Athletics since winning last July 27 here, tying a club mark for consecutive defeats to one team.
Oakland's Scott Hatteberg tied a franchise record with three doubles, drove in two runs and walked twice, raising his batting average to .419. He went 9-for-13 in the series.
"He has been hitting great," said Athletics manager Ken Macha. "He had an impressive. He was on base every time today."
The Athletics benefited from eight walks by Rangers rookie starter Colby Lewis in the first four innings. Overall, Texas pitchers issued 11 walks, but Oakland left 12 on base.
"Anytime you walk 11 guys and win a ballgame, that's something," Rangers manager Buck Showalter said.
Showalter probably knew the streak against Oakland was going to end when the Athletics failed to score after loading the bases with none out in the sixth. Lefthander Aaron Fultz replaced Esteban Yan and promptly retired Eric Chavez on a double play comebacker with Fultz throwing home for the force play and catcher Einar Diaz firing to first baseman Teixeira.
"Lots of times it's better to be lucky than good," Fultz said of the double play. "In that situation I'm looking to get a ground ball and luckily it was hit to me. Usually in that situation I'll gladly trade two outs for one run but it worked out today."
After Fultz intentionally walked Jermaine Dye, who hit a solo homer in the third, Macha sent righthanded hitter Ron Gant for lefthanded hitter Erubiel Durazo, but Gant struck out to end the threat.
"Fultzie was unbelievable," Lewis said. "I can't remember the last time I saw bases loaded with no outs and no runs scored."
Mark Ellis, who went 2-for-4, led off the game with a walk and scored on Hatteberg's first double of the game. Ellis had an RBI double in the second and Dye homered in the third. Hatteberg's second RBI double in the fourth increased the lead to 4-0.
But Lilly failed to hold it. Juan Gonzalez and Everett singled in the fourth before Teixeira pulled a 1-1 pitch over the left field wall.
"The first pitch he went down with a changeup and then a curveball high," Teixeira said. "The next pitch was the same but a little lower. It was a good pitch to hit out."
Lilly gave up four runs and eight hits in 6 1/3 innings.
