Scott Sizemore belted a grand slam and Ryan Sweeney drove in a pair as the Oakland Athletics made things a little tighter in the American League West with an 8-7 win over the Texas Rangers on Saturday.

Rookie Jemile Weeks added two hits and David DeJesus scored a pair for the Athletics, who snapped a nine-game losing streak to the Rangers.

The loss cuts Texas’ lead in the West to 1 1/2 games over the Los Angeles Angels, who beat New York Yankees on Saturday night.

Alexi Ogando (12-8) made his first start for the Rangers since Aug. 31 and did not look sharp, surrendering three runs in the second and throwing 96 pitches in five-plus innings. He was finally removed after hitting a batter and allowing a single.

Mike Gonzalez came on and retired a pair but left the bases loaded for Yoshinori Tateyama, who gave Sizemore a 1-0 pitch he was able to drive over the wall in left and put Oakland on top 7-3. The Athletics would add another run in the frame to make it 8-3.

The Rangers chipped away but could not quite get all the way back.

Trevor Cahill (11-13) earned the win and Andrew Bailey picked up his 20th save.