ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Colby Lewis took a perfect game into the eighth inning before settling for a two-hitter, leading the Texas Rangers past the Oakland Athletics 4-0 Friday night.
Lewis, who was 0-3 with an 8.62 ERA in his previous three starts, got a standing ovation from the home crowd after Danny Valencia's double down the left-field line to start the eighth.
The 36-year-old right-hander (15-8) needed just 97 pitches to set a career best in wins, beating his previous high of 14 from the second of two straight World Series seasons for the Rangers in 2011.
Mitch Moreland snapped an 18-inning scoreless streak for Texas with a two-run double in a three-run first inning off Oakland starter Jesse Chavez (7-15).
Valencia reached third on a flyout by Billy Butler in the eighth, but Lewis struck out Muncy to keep the shutout intact.
Josh Phegley led off the ninth with a sharp single off third baseman Adrian Beltre's glove, then Lewis got Eric Sogard and leadoff hitter Sam Fuld on flyouts.
With the crowd standing and chanting ''Colby!,'' Lewis got Mark Canha on a fielder's choice to shortstop Elvis Andrus to finish the shutout. Lewis struck out four and didn't walk a batter.
Lewis got great defensive plays from center Delino DeShields in the fourth inning and second baseman Rougned Odor in the sixth to keep the bid alive. The 21 straight hitters retired to start the game were the most for a Texas pitcher since Yu Darvish got the first 26 before Marwin Gonzalez's two-out single in the ninth for Houston on April 2, 2013.
DeShields, back in the lineup after missing three games when he injured his left knee on a slide in Seattle, made a diving catch in shallow center on a soft line drive from Josh Reddick. Odor was already playing a shift in shallow right field when Max Muncy hit a line drive that sent him running deeper into right, where he made a running, leaping catch.
Lewis fell behind Sogard, the No. 9 hitter, 3-0 in the sixth but got him on a fly to right. He had a 3-1 count in the seventh on Reddick, who flew out to left.
TRAINERS ROOM
Athletics: CF Billy Burns was scratched from the leadoff spot because of right hamstring tightness. ... Manager Bob Melvin said there was no timetable for C Stephen Vogt's return. He was hit in the groin by a foul tip Sunday. Melvin said Vogt would probably be a DH before he was behind the plate again. ... RHP Chris Bassitt (shoulder) threw at 105 feet and should be close to a bullpen session.
Rangers: OF Josh Hamilton had arthroscopic surgery to repair a slight meniscus tear in his left knee, and there's still a chance he could play again this season. It would likely be as a pinch-hitter.
UP NEXT
Athletics: LHP Sean Nolin (0-1, 4.50), part of the offseason trade that sent Josh Donaldson to Toronto, makes his second start after giving up five hits and three runs in six innings in a 3-2 loss to Seattle in his debut for the A's.
Rangers: RHP Yovani Gallardo (12-9, 3.16) is set for his 30th start, which would be his seventh straight season with at least 30. The others were with Milwaukee. He has won five straight decisions, his longest since a career-best streak of eight straight in 2012.
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