Colby Lewis takes blame for loss as Rangers fall 6-3 to A's

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Colby Lewis lost his control and felt as if he lost the game for the Texas Rangers, even without a decision.

The Oakland Athletics completed a three-game series sweep with a 6-3 win Thursday, getting their go-ahead runs after the veteran Texas right-hander had given way to the bullpen.

''I flat just let them back in the ballgame and beat myself in the fifth,'' Lewis said. ''I don't know the last time I walked three guys in an inning. ... That was just bad pitching. It's solely on myself.''

The Rangers have lost five in a row for the first time under new manager Jeff Banister.

Texas led 2-0 against Sonny Gray (9-3) when Mitch Moreland homered leading off the fourth and Joey Gallo doubled ahead of a single by Robinson Chirinos.

But Lewis, who had walked only two batters his previous 33 innings, gave up three walks in the fifth to load the bases. The A's tied the game at 2 when No. 9 hitter Sam Fuld hit a full-count pitch with two outs for a two-run single.

Moreland added an RBI single in the fifth, but Oakland loaded the bases again to start the sixth - on three consecutive singles, two of them infield hits. Josh Reddick tied the game again with a sac fly before Lewis' 100th and final pitch, a grounder that ricocheted off his foot to second baseman Rougned Odor for an inning-ending 1-4-3 putout.

''The fifth is what I'm more disappointed in myself,'' said Lewis, still 7-1 in his past 14 starts against Oakland since 2010. ''I've got to have a clean inning and I didn't. Put it on me.''

Keone Kela (4-5) got out the first two batters in the seventh before consecutive singles. Sam Freeman took over and didn't retire any of the three batters he faced. There was an infield single off his glove before Ben Zobrist drew a bases-loaded walk and Reddick added a two-run single.

''The whole outing makes me mad,'' Freeman said.

Gray struck out seven and walked one while allowing three runs over six innings, improving to 5-0 with a 0.96 ERA in his five road starts against the Rangers. The right-hander had allowed only one run in 31 1-3 innings the previous four starts, including two shutouts last season.

Oakland, which had won a season-best five in a row and nine of 11, had the go-ahead inning right after Gray threw the last of his 92 pitches. The right-hander gave up nine hits and walked one.

''He battles himself sometimes. He can be as tough on himself as opposed to battling the opponent,'' A's manager Bob Melvin said. "There are periods during the season when you just don't feel completely locked in, which is odd to hear about him.''

Tyler Clippard, the fourth Oakland pitcher, worked a perfect ninth for his 13th save in 15 chances. He hadn't pitched since Saturday and Sunday, when he was the first A's reliever since 1996 with saves of three or more outs on consecutive days.

STRIKING OUT GALLO

While Gallo doubled and scored, the 21-year-old slugger also struck out two more times. That's 20 strikeouts over 36 at-bats his past 10 games, and he is hitting .159 (7 of 44) his past 13 games. ''I'm just being a little too impatient, swinging too much,'' said Gallo, who had never played above Double-A before his June 2 call-up. ''After the first week or so the pitchers have started to make adjustments. Obviously I've got to adjust too and keep learning the pitchers, guys I've never seen still. I'm still a little inexperienced on that.''

TRAINER'S ROOM

Athletics: Stephen Vogt started his 48th game at catcher, his first since a cortisone shot Sunday in his left elbow.

Rangers: OF Delino DeShields (left hamstring strain) will work out for the third consecutive day on Friday, and if all goes well will start a rehab assignment Saturday. He has been on the DL since June 15, and the earliest he could come back would be Tuesday. ... RF Shin-Soo Choo was back in the lineup after missing two games with lower back spasms.

UP NEXT

Athletics: Oakland goes home for 10 games, part of a stretch playing 15 of 18 games at home. The exception was the series in Texas. Jesse Hahn, 4-1 with a 2.25 ERA his past six starts, is scheduled to pitch Friday against Kansas City.

Rangers: Texas, 22-17 on the road, opens a three-game series at Toronto with right-hander Nick Martinez on the mound.