ARLINGTON, Texas -- With the way Bartolo Colon was dominating on the mound, all the Oakland Athletics needed was the early run they scored off Yu Darvish. Kevin Faulk Jersey . Now they just about have a stranglehold on the AL West after beating the Texas Rangers twice in less than 24 hours. Colon scattered seven hits over eight scoreless innings and the division-leading As won 1-0 Saturday, stretching their division lead over Texas to 5 1/2 games with two weeks left in the regular season. "I dont think its much difference because last year we wanted to win every game, and right now we feel like we want to win every game still," said Josh Donaldson, who drew a walk in the first and scored the games only run. "If anything, it might be a little bit different for them. ... Now theyre looking up at us and trying to catch us." Oakland overcame a five-game deficit against the Rangers in the final nine games last year, including a season-ending three-game sweep at home to clinch the division. Texas has 15 games left -- but only one against the As in Sundays series finale. The As won for the seventh time in eight games and have already clinched the key division series. They built a 9-2 lead in Friday nights opener and held on to win 9-8 after Texas had a six-run eighth. "Its big for us to be able to pull these victories off," As centre fielder Coco Crisp said. "One was weird, the other one today was just a pitchers duel." Colon (16-6) struck out seven and lowered what is already his career-best ERA to 2.73. The 40-year-old right-hander became the first to reach 20 victories against Texas, his most wins in his career against any team and the most by any pitcher against Texas -- breaking what had been a tie with Bert Blyleven, Dennis Leonard and Jack Morris. "Bartolo was just absolutely phenomenal today and didnt really give them that much of a chance," Donaldson said. Darvish (12-9) struck out 10 over seven innings in his fourth 1-0 loss of the season. The right-hander from Japan has lost his last four starts, the last two by 1-0 scores, and is winless his last six. Texas scored two runs or less for Darvish his last seven starts. That includes his 2-1 win at Houston on Aug. 12 when he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. "I cant control it. I cant do anything about it. The only thing I can do is concentrate on the batter in front of me," Darvish said through an interpreter, insisting that he is not frustrated. "As a pitcher, you cant control how many runs are scored. Am I going to go into the lineup and help the lineup? I cant." Darvish struck out the side in the first, but Donaldson walked and scored on a two-out double by Brandon Moss into the right-field corner. Second baseman Ian Kinslers relay throw to the plate was a bit up the line. Colon walked one before Grant Balfour worked the ninth for his 38th save in 40 chances. Texas has lost all five games on this homestand, and is 2-10 in September. "It put us in second place. Thats about it," manager Ron Washington said. "Weve still got games left to play. Were going to continue to play." Other than the As last season, only two other teams have overcome deficits of five games or more with 15 or fewer games left since 1969, according to STATS. In 2007, Philadelphia had a 5 1/2-game deficit against the New York Mets with 15 games left, the same the Rangers face now. The St. Louis Cardinals were 5 1/2 games behind Houston with 11 games remaining in 2001. Darvish had his majors-best 12th game of at least 10 strikeouts this season, and the 20th in his 58 career games. He also surpassed 250 strikeouts, becoming only the fourth pitcher to accomplish that within his first two MLB seasons. The others were Tim Lincecum, Dwight Gooden and Herb Score. NOTES: The 12:06 p.m. start was the earliest ever at Rangers Ballpark, which is in its 20th season. And it came after a 4-hour, 9-minute game Friday night that matched the fourth-longest nine-inning game in park history. That game ended at 11:16 p.m. ... The last MLB pitcher with four 1-0 losses in the same season was Orel Hershiser in 1989. ... Balfour had allowed seven runs over his previous seven games, but converted five of six saves in that span. Youth Patriots Jerseys . "Right now were kind of looking at him at the end of the rotation right now," said pitching coach Pete Walker. "Not indicative of how hes doing or how hes feeling. Its just, it seems like the spot we want him right now. JaWhaun Bentley Jersey .C. -- The Charlotte Bobcats said head coach Steve Clifford underwent a successful procedure Friday to have two stents placed in his heart. http://www.cheappatriotsjerseyschina.com/john-hannah-jersey/ . Gustafsson controlled the first round after getting top position on a throw, and came out much more forcefully in the second, buckling Manuwa with a Muay Thai knee, and finishing him off with strikes on the ground.JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - When the Jacksonville Jaguars introduced starter Toby Gerhart before last weeks game, Gerhart and his fellow running backs ran onto the field together.They called it a sign of unity.It also served as a strong visual depicting what the Jaguars backfield has become.Its running back by committee in Jacksonville, with Gerhart, Denard Robinson, Jordan Todman and rookie Storm Johnson all sharing carries.The Jaguars (0-5) rank 31st in the league in rushing, averaging 67 yards a game, so the decision to get more guys involved was an obvious one.Johnson could be the wild card in the rotation. A seventh-round draft pick from UCF, Johnson was inactive the first three weeks because of ankle injury, and although he was active Week 4 at San Diego, he didnt play. He made his NFL debut Sunday against Pittsburgh, running four times for a team-high 27 yards.It wasnt a dazzling performance, but Johnsons 20-yard run in the third quarter matched the teams longest of the season (quarterback Blake Bortles) and was the longest for any Jaguars running back.Its not surprising to me, coach Gus Bradley said. I mentioned two weeks ago he had a good practice. Last week he had a good week, and its that trust and hes building trust. For him to go in there and perform and really capture his opportunity was pretty cool to see. ... The runs he had were very impressive.Johnson re-injured his ankle late in the game, but should be fine for Sundays game at Tennessee (1-4).Still in rebuilding mode, the Jaguars might start Johnson at some point. Bradley and general manager Dave Caldwell have gone with several youngsters this season, especially on offence.Bortles, centre Luke Bowanko, right guard Brandon Linder, tight end Nic Jacobs and receivers Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns all started in the 17-9 loss to the Steelers. Rookie linebacker Telvin Smith also got the nod, giving the team seven rookies in the starting lineup.By comparison, fellow AFC South teams Houston, Indianapolis and Tennessee started one each.Jacksonville also has fiive second-year players in its starting lineup, making the Jaguars one of the leagues youngest and least experienced teams. Drew Bledsoe Jersey. Caldwell and Bradley believe that if the competition is close between two players, its usually best to go with the younger guy, especially if they think hes got more upside.Well, its a challenge that weve said before that we accept, Bradley said. Somewhere down the line these guys cant be rookies anymore, I believe. I think somewhere theyve played enough games where they say, All right, lets go. I dont want to talk about that anymore. We understand that.Gerhart and the other running backs understand the situation.Although Jacksonville gave Gerhart a three-year, $10 million contract in free agency to be the No. 1 back, the former Minnesota Vikings backup knew he would be sharing the load this season.Injuries have made it even more necessary.Gerhart sprained his right ankle in the season opener against Philadelphia when he was horse-collar tackled from behind. He has been hobbled since. And it seemingly got worse Sunday when he sprained his right foot. He returned to the game, but finished with a season-low four carries for 9 yards, and played just 10 snaps.I know that he felt really good going into the game and then early he had an issue, Bradley said.Regardless of what happens to the starting spot, the running backs insist it wont matter because theyre so close. That was evident when they took the field together Sunday.Were just a tight group and we just said, Why not? Gerhart said.Todman said it carried over from last year, when former Jaguars standout Maurice Jones-Drew led the group and got everyone hanging out together. They even nicknamed themselves the wolf pack.They didnt get introduced as a group in 2013, but decided to do it Sunday a€” fitting given the state of the position.It was a group decision, Todman said. Why not? Lets do it. 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