Ziegler gave up two singles in two shutout innings to extend his scoreless streak to 27 innings. The 22-year-old right-hander began the season in the minors before being promoted to Oakland on May 30.
Ziegler’s record broke the previous mark of 25 innings set by Philadelphia Phillies right-hander George McQuillan in 1907. Ziegler’s scoreless streak is also the third-longest overall by an Oakland reliever.
The Athletics snapped a three-game losing streak and won for the second time in 11 games.
Jeremy Blevins (1-1), the second of four Oakland pitchers, went 1 1/3 scoreless innings to earn his first major league win and Huston Street worked a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 23 opportunities.
The A’s went into the game with the lowest batting average in the American League and second-worst in the majors but roughed up Texas starter Eric Hurley. The A’s scored six runs to knock the rookie right-hander out of the game after only two innings. Hurley was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game.
Cust hit his 19th home run of the year off Hurley (1-2) in the first. The A’s designated hitter was hitting only .136 since the All-Star break before his two-run shot gave Oakland a 2-1 lead.
The game was halted briefly in the fifth when Gerald Laird hit a foul ball that ricocheted off the facemask of catcher Suzuki, who stood up and placed his hands on his knees then stayed in that position for several minutes while team trainer Steve Sayles and manager Bob Geren looked on.
Suzuki remained in the game and finished 3-for-4.
Hank Blalock drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double off Oakland starter Dana Eveland in the fifth. Blalock’s hit capped a four-run inning for the Rangers and cut the A’s lead to 6-5 while chasing Eveland from the game.
Texas scored 28 runs in the series but were shut out over the final 4 1/3 innings by Oakland’s bullpen.
