Hadley and Brown were at par-72 Del M

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Oakland Athletics are in sole possession of first place in the AL West for the first time in more than a month. Its just not that big of a deal to Josh Donaldson. Donaldson had three hits, including a two-run homer in the sixth inning, and the As beat the Houston Astros 7-5 on Friday night to jump ahead of Texas in the division. Jed Lowrie added two hits and two RBIs for Oakland, which has won six of eight. Yoenis Cespedes and Nate Freiman had two hits apiece. The As grabbed a half-game lead over the Rangers, who lost 6-5 at the Los Angeles Angels. But it was around this time last year that Oakland began its late push to overtake Texas for the division crown. "It doesnt matter until the end of the season, we know that too well," Donaldson said. "Were really not trying to focus on it right now. Were trying to take care of our business." A.J. Griffin (13-9) gave up four runs over six innings but matched his career high of nine strikeouts to win his third straight decision. Matt Dominguez drove in a pair of runs for Houston after sitting out the past three games with a sinus infection. The As trailed 3-1 and 4-3 before scoring twice in the fourth on Lowries RBI single and a groundout by Cespedes. Donaldson doubled and scored in the third, and then singled and scored in the fourth. But his big blow came in the sixth, a towering drive to centre against reliever Phil Humber that gave Oakland a 7-4 lead. Donaldson went 3 for 5 and is batting .349 with two homers and nine RBIs in 17 games this season against major league-worst Houston (47-94). Eight of the As nine starters had at least one hit, and five different players drove in runs. "That shows that we have multiple ways that we can score runs," Donaldson said. "Thats what it takes. If youre going to score seven, eight runs, its not all the time going to come by the long ball. Its going to come by guys manufacturing and having good approaches at the plate." Sean Doolittle and Ryan Cook combined to retire six batters, and Grant Balfour worked the ninth for his 37th save. The Astros, who had won three of the previous four games in the season series, got the tying run on base in the ninth after an error by second baseman Eric Sogard allowed Jonathan Villar to score. Balfour got Jason Castro to ground into a fielders choice, and then fanned Dominguez to end the game. "The at-bats were tremendous, especially in the ninth inning," Houston manager Bo Porter said. "I really felt like Dominguez was going to get a base hit there. Its unfortunate we came up short." It was an appropriate end to the back-and-forth contest. Houston scored three times in the third to open a 3-1 lead. Dominguez had a two-run single and Jose Altuve also drove in a run with a base hit. Oakland tied it in the bottom half when Lowrie doubled in Donaldson and scored on Freimans single. Villar drove in Brett Wallace with a bunt single in the fourth, putting the Astros back in front. The lead didnt last very long, with Oakland going in front for good in the bottom half. Houston starter Dallas Keuchel (5-9) struggled in his third start against the As this season, allowing 10 hits and five runs in just 3 2-3 innings. He was hurt by his defence. Left fielder Chris Carter dropped Brandon Moss routine fly ball in the sixth. First baseman Wallace later dropped a foul ball in the eighth for another error. NOTES: As CF Coco Crisp has an extra-base hit in seven consecutive games, the longest streak by an Oakland player since 2003. ... Villar finished with three hits. ... Houston CF Brandon Barnes was ejected in the sixth inning after arguing with home plate umpire Alan Porter from the Astros dugout. Barnes appeared to get hit by a pitch from Griffin earlier in the inning but Porter ruled otherwise. Barnes then struck out. ... Castro (right knee) was back in the Houston lineup as the DH after missing three games. Bo Porter did not know when Castro would be able to catch again. ... As RF Josh Reddick (right wrist) is expected to take batting practice on the field Tuesday in Minnesota. ... Brett Oberholtzer (4-1), coming off Houstons first shutout of the season, takes on Dan Straily (8-7) in the third game of the series. Vapormax Ireland Cheap . The game marks the rare occasion when two homegrown running backs, Jon Cornish of the Calgary Stampeders and Andrew Harris of the B.C. Lions, will start in the West Divisions battle for a Grey Cup berth. Wholesale Vapormax Ireland . Some will say that Martin is too sensitive while others will say that it is part of the way football is in the locker room. But to have to absorb what was said to him for any rational and intelligent person is too much. http://www.cheapvapormaxireland.com/. Winning more at home probably should be on the list. The Flames look to avoid a fifth defeat in six home games by winning a sixth straight meeting with the Edmonton Oilers on Saturday night. Discount Vapormax . Forward Iker Muniain scored the winner in the 70th minute after Bilbaos incessant pressure recovered the ball and sparked a counterattack inside Barcelonas half. Neymar was once again tagged to pick up Messis goal-scoring duties, but when he wasnt frustrated by slippery footing Bilbaos defence got the better of him. Cheap Vapormax Ireland .Before a raucous sellout crowd, the Hawks won for the 29th time in 31 games to extend their Eastern-best record to 36-8.As usual, pretty much everyone chipped in.Four starters were in double figures and backup point guard Dennis Schroder led a spurt at the start of the fourth quarter that helped the Hawks pull away.PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. -- Morgan Hoffmann took the first-round lead at the Pebble Beach Invitational on Thursday, shooting a 7-under 65 at Spyglass Hill. Hoffmann had a one-stroke lead on fellow PGA Tour players Chesson Hadley, Ted Potter Jr., Scott Brown and defending champion Tommy Gainey. "It was just a really nice day," Hoffmann said of his bogey-free round. "The greens were soft and the ball rolled really well." Gainey, Hadley and Brown were at par-72 Del Monte Golf Course. Potter Jr. had his 66 at Spyglass Hill. "Anytime youre the defending champion, you always want to give it your best shot," said Gainey, whose lone PGA Tour win remains the 2012 McGladrey Classic. Four players, including 2013-2014 PGA Tour rookie Brice Garnett, Jason Kokrak and University of Illinois mens golf coach Mike Small were two back at 67.dddddddddddd. Kokrak had the low round at Pebble Beach. Ten-time major winner and World Golf Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam opened with a 70 at Del Monte. Two-time defending First Tee Open at Pebble Beach winner Kirk Triplett shot 69 at Del Monte. Record three-time winner Mark Brooks was six back following a 71 at Spyglass. Former winner Rocco Mediate withdrew with back spasms. In its 42nd year, the Invitational is the only event that features players from the PGA, LPGA, Champions and Web.com Tours vying for the same purse. ' ' '