Rookie Jharel Cotton sharp in A’s victory against Rangers

OAKLAND - Jharel Cotton pitched seven crisp innings and the Oakland Athletics beat the Texas Rangers 7-1 on Sunday to avoid a series sweep.

Ryon Healy had three hits, including a two-run homer, and Stephen Vogt drove in three runs to help the A’s win after being shut out in back-to-back games.

Adrian Beltre hit his 32nd home run for Texas.

The Rangers, who clinched the AL West on Friday, fell into a tie with the Boston Red Sox for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Texas (92-64) holds a slight tiebreaking edge based on division record.

Oakland will be sitting out the postseason and had lost the first five games on this homestand but ended it on an encouraging note behind Cotton (2-0). The rookie right-hander allowed one run, struck out five and faced two over the minimum while quieting the Rangers’ potent offense.

Cotton became the first A’s pitcher since at least 1913 to start his career with four consecutive starts of five innings or longer while allowing one earned run or less.

Sean Doolittle and Ryan Dull pitched one inning apiece to complete the five-hitter.

Beltre homered off Cotton in the seventh, the 445th of his career. Beltre also singled to move past home run king Barry Bonds on the career hits list with 2,937.

Coming off consecutive shutout losses in the first two games of the series, the A’s did all of their scoring in the second to chase starter Colby Lewis (6-4).

Bruce Maxwell blooped an RBI single just past the outstretched glove of shortstop Hanser Alberto. Marcus Semien scored on a groundout and Vogt lined a three-run double to right before Healy’s 12th home run, a towering shot that put Oakland up 7-0.

That ended a streak of 23 consecutive scoreless innings by Texas pitchers.

NOTES

Sonny Gray will come off the A’s disabled list to make his first start in nearly two months against the Angels on Wednesday. Gray has not pitched in a game since Aug. 6.