Athletics 9, Rangers 2: Seth Smith homered and Bartolo Colon pitched seven solid innings as visiting Oakland defeated Texas for its fourth straight victory.

Smith reached base four times on two hits and two walks and Coco Crisp and Jed Lowrie had three hits apiece as the Athletics moved within 5 1/2 games of the first-place Rangers in the American League West. Texas lost for only the third time in 12 games.

Colon (4-2) allowed two runs and six hits for his first win since April 23. He walked two after issuing just two bases on balls in 47 1/3 innings entering the contest.

Smith hit an opposite-field shot to left in the first and added a run-scoring single in Oakland’s four-run fifth inning that featured run-scoring doubles by Yoenis Cespedes and Brandon Moss and an RBI single by Chris Young. Eric Sogard had a run-scoring single in a three-run seventh.

Jurickson Profar drove in both Texas runs on an infield out in the third and a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Josh Lindblom (0-1) gave up four runs and seven hits in 4 2/3 innings in his first career start after 101 major-league relief appearances.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Colon improved to 19-7 in 31 career starts against the Rangers. … RHP Derek Lowe was designated for assignment by Texas to open up a roster spot for Lindblom. … Oakland racked up 15 hits, eight walks and one hit by pitch from four Texas pitchers.