Sweeney drives in career-high 5 runs to lead A’s past Rangers 7-6

Sweeney drives in 5 as A’s edge Rangers 7-6

OAKLAND, Calif. — Ryan Sweeney drove in a career-high five runs on three hits, including a home run, and six Oakland pitchers held off the Texas Rangers in the Athletics’ 7-6 victory Tuesday night.

Kevin Kouzmanoff and Daric Barton also drove in runs for the A’s, who won for just the second time in eight games. Brad Ziegler (1-2) got the win after pitching 1 1-3 innings in relief. Starter Vin Mazzaro lasted three-plus innings, allowing four runs on two hits.

Vladimir Guerrero hit a grand slam and had five RBIs for the Rangers, who had a four-game winning streak snapped.

Rangers starter Scott Feldman (1-3) gave up seven runs on 10 hits over seven innings. He walked three and struck out four.

Andrew Bailey recorded the final four outs for his fourth save in as many chances. He’s yet to allow a run this season and extended his scoreless streak to 19 2-3 innings dating to last Sept. 6. He also converted his 25th consecutive save opportunity.

Mazzaro started in place of two-time All-Star Justin Duchscherer, who has soreness in his left hip. Duchscherer postponed his scheduled appointment to receive a cortisone shot until Wednesday and issued a statement saying, “There’s nothing new.”

Sweeney ended a career-high 50-game homerless streak when he drove a pitch from Feldman into the right-field bleachers for a two-run shot. He added two more RBIs with a single in the second and singled home a run in the fourth.

Guerrero’s slam, the sixth of his career, made it 5-4 in the third. It was his first slam since May 1, 2007, and he added an RBI single in the fifth.

NOTES: Rangers C Max Ramirez is expected to start Wednesday. … A’s OF Coco Crisp will have his fractured left pinkie X-rayed again to determine his next course of rehabilitation. … A’s IF Mark Ellis (strained left hamstring) is hitting off a tee and will progress to batting practice.