Murphy has 3 hits, 2 RBIs in Rangers’ 10-3 victory over Athletics

Murphy leads Rangers to 10-3 win over A’s

OAKLAND, Calif. — David Murphy had three hits and drove in two runs to help the Texas Rangers hang on to their slim playoff hopes, beating the Oakland Athletics 10-3 on Monday night.

Julio Borbon and Chris Davis both drove in two runs as the Rangers won for the second time in eight games, moving within seven games of the Boston Red Sox, who lost 12-9 to Kansas City, in the AL wild card.

Kevin Millwood (11-10) did not allow an earned run in seven innings. He gave up a run and three hits, walking one and striking out two. He needed to pitch 4 1-3 innings against Oakland to reach 180 for the season and kick in the fifth and final season of his contract, which is worth $12 million.

Matt Carson hit a home run for the A’s, who had their season-high seven-game winning streak end. Rajai Davis also drove in a run.

Edgar Gonzalez (0-3) lasted 3 1-3 innings, giving up six runs and nine hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Millwood allowed two hits in the first inning but then did not allow a runner past first base until a throwing error by second baseman Ian Kinsler sent Chad Pennington to third. Davis followed with a sacrifice fly.

The Rangers scored in three of the first four innings.

Hank Blalock singled home a run in the first and Texas added three runs in the second on a two-run single from Borbon and Murphy’s RBI single.

Murphy and Marlon Byrd added run-scoring singles in the fourth to make it 6-0.

After the A’s scored, Davis tripled home two runs in the seventh and Blalock drove in a run in the eighth.

NOTES: A’s 1B Daric Barton sat out the game with a sore heel. … The A’s have not allowed a home run in six straight games. … A’s LHP Brad Kilby has retired 19 of the last 20 hitters he’s faced and has yet to allow a run in 11 innings. … The Rangers allowed their 33rd unearned run of the season, second fewest in the majors to Philadelphia’s 31. … Murphy is 7 for 8 against Edgar Gonzalez. … Rangers C Jarrod Saltalamacchia underwent shoulder surgery in Dallas.