Rangers rally to beat A’s 8-6

OAKLAND - Delino DeShields hit a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the sixth four batters after Mitch Moreland connected for a tying two-run homer, and the Texas Rangers beat the Oakland Athletics 8-6 on Tuesday night to increase their lead in the AL West.

Chi Chi Gonzalez (4-5) pitched two scoreless innings for the win in relief of starter Martin Perez as the Rangers moved two games ahead of Houston after the Astros lost 4-3 at home to the Angels.

DeShields hit another sacrifice fly in the eighth, while Shin-Soo Choo and Adrian Beltre hit consecutive sacrifice flies in the fifth to aid the Texas comeback.

Jake Smolinski and Marcus Semien hit back-to-back RBI triples in the second to give the A’s 40 on the season, tying the Oakland record set in 1968.

Rougned Odor had an RBI single and Moreland matched his career high with his 23rd home run on a 2-1 pitch from left-hander Sean Nolin in the sixth. Moreland has his second career 20-homer season after hitting 23 in 2013. DeShields put the Rangers ahead against Drew Pomeranz (5-6).

Texas won for just the second time in four games and snapped a two-game road skid, having lost back-to-back away games for the first time since dropping three in a row outside Arlington from Aug. 9-12.

Nolin pitched five innings for Oakland, giving up seven hits and five runs with two strikeouts and two walks.

Perez allowed five runs - four earned - on six hits in four innings, struck out three and walked three. Shawn Tolleson, the Rangers’ sixth pitcher, finished for his 33rd save in his first appearance in six games since Sept. 15. Tolleson did allowe a two-out RBI single to Oakland’s Danny Valencia.

TRAINING ROOM

Rangers: OF Josh Hamilton, recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Sept. 11, will try to run the bases Wednesday. Manager Jeff Banister doesn’t want to predict a timeline for the slugger’s return. It’s more about evaluating how Hamilton feels each day and how much he can tolerate physically. “It’s progressing,” Banister said. “Each step he does make in the positive direction benefits us and him.” .?.?. LHP Cole Hamels will pitch Thursday’s series finale.

Athletics: C Josh Phegley is out for the season with a concussion after a fluke injury Friday at Houston. Teammate Billy Butler was twirling his bat pregame and inadvertently hit Phegley in the back of the head. .?.?. C Stephen Vogt (groin) could catch during this weekend’s series against the Giants. .?.?. RHP Chris Bassitt (1-6) will pitch Thursday in his first outing since Aug. 26.