Rangers outlast Athletics 16-15

PHOENIX (AP) — Nick Williams hit a pair of home runs and Brent Lillibridge's sacrifice fly in the ninth brought home the winning run Saturday as the Texas Rangers outlasted the Oakland Athletics 16-15.

The A's announced Saturday that starting pitcher A.J. Griffin has a strained muscle in his right elbow and will be shut down for three weeks, at which time he will be examined again. Another A's starter, Jarrod Parker, was supposed to pitch Saturday, but has right forearm tightness and will see Dr. James Andrews on Monday.

Arnold Leon, filling in for Parker, made his first start of the spring. He allowed two hits and two walks, struck out two and was charged with three runs.

The A's split squad scored in the first five innings — led by Brandon Moss, who hit two two-run homers — and led 13-6 after five. But Texas scored three runs in the sixth and five in the seventh to go ahead 14-13.

Nate Freiman's RBI single capped a two-run seventh for Oakland before Williams homered in the ninth to tie it. Josh Reddick also homered and John Jaso was 3 for 3 with 4 RBI for the A's.

Texas starter Colby Lewis was knocked around, giving up two homers and six runs in 1 1-3 innings.