Oakland, CA (My Sportsbook) - Aaron Cunningham hit his first career home run, a three-run shot in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Oakland Athletics defeated the Texas Rangers, 7-4, in the finale of a four-game series at McAfee Coliseum.

Cunningham finished 2-for-5, while Ryan Sweeney had three hits, two runs batted in and a run scored for the Athletics, who earned a split in the four- game set. Oakland has won four of its last six. Cliff Pennington chipped in with a pair of hits, an RBI and two runs scored to go along with two walks in the victory.

Dana Eveland surrendered three runs on four hits over five frames. The left-hander struck out six and walked four in earning a no-decision. Joey Devine (6-1) picked up the win after tossing a scoreless eighth inning. The veteran righty has not allowed an earned run in his last 19 outings, covering 18 2/3 innings. Brad Ziegler earned his ninth save of the season.

Nelson Cruz paced the Rangers with three hits, including two doubles and four RBI. Texas has dropped three of its last five.

Vicente Padilla, who did not factor in the decision, worked five innings, giving up two runs on five hits while striking out four and walking three. Warner Madrigal (0-2) was tagged with the loss after giving up three runs in the eighth.

With the game knotted at 4-4 after 7 1/2 innings, Pennington and Sweeney both walked to lead off the bottom of the eighth. After Jack Cust was called out on strikes and Kurt Suzuki lined out to right, Cunningham jumped on a first pitch slider from Madrigal and hammered it over the left field wall to put the A's in front 7-4.

Ziegler was brought in for the top of the ninth and retired the first two batters before giving up a double to Marlon Byrd, but got Cruz to ground out to end the game.

Oakland got on the board in the first when Cust's single to left brought home Pennington, who got things started with a one-out base hit. The A's made it a 2-0 game in the second on a Pennington run-scoring single.

However, the Rangers came back to tie things in the top of the third. With the bases loaded and two down, Cruz laced a double to left that scored a pair.

Texas forged ahead in the fifth. After the first two batters were retired, Marlon Byrd worked a walk and Cruz followed with a RBI double to left, giving the Rangers a 3-2 edge.

With the bases loaded and one down in the bottom of the sixth, Sweeney's two- run single to left scored a pair to put the Athletics back in front by a 4-3 margin. Oakland was bidding for more with runners on the corners, but Cust grounded into a tailor-made 6-4-3 double play to end the inning.

A two-out run-scoring single in the top of the seventh inning by Cruz tied the game once again. Oakland tried answering in the bottom of the frame. With the bases loaded and two outs Rajai Davis grounded into a fielder's choice to end the threat.

Game Notes

Oakland will host the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the start of a three- game set on Tuesday night, while Texas begins a nine-game homestand on Monday night against Detroit...Rangers designated hitter Gerald Laird was ejected by home plate umpire Angel Campos in the fourth inning for arguing balls and strikes...Despite the loss, the Rangers have had the upper hand in this year's season series with Oakland, winning 10 of 16 matchups...Cust has now struck out 180 times this season and is six shy of tying Rob Deer for most by an American League player. Deer fanned 186 times with Milwaukee in 1987 when it played in the AL.