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ARLINGTON, Texas -- It doesnt matter to John Jaso whether hes Oaklands leadoff batter, as long as hes playing. For the Athletics, hes extremely important at the top of the order, especially with Coco Crisp hurting. Jaso drove in three runs Sunday night, helping Scott Kazmir and Oakland beat the Texas Rangers 9-3. The As catcher had a run-scoring single during a five-run second inning and added a two-run double in the fifth. "I like (leadoff) because Im in the lineup," Jaso said. "I dont care where." Manager Bob Melvin said Crisp, who has led off in 69 of the Athletics 105 games, was going back to Oakland to be examined by the doctors who have been treating a recurring neck injury. "When Cocos out, we certainly need a guy against right-handers," Melvin said. "(Jaso) takes a lot of pitches, and he can be aggressive." Jaso was leading off for the 15th time this season and has had at least one hit each game while batting .380 (19 for 50) in that role. He entered the game with an overall .360 on-base percentage. The Athletics first three batters -- Jaso, Stephen Vogt and Yoenis Cespedes -- each had a double and a single, and Josh Reddick added three singles. Kazmir (12-3) moved into a tie for the American League lead in wins while allowing seven hits in five innings. He walked two and struck out two. "It was maybe not his best command at times," Melvin said. "But seeing him be so good this season, that five-inning outing doesnt look so good." Kazmir would not use the 100-degree temperature at game time as an excuse. "Its tough to have nice weather in Oakland and come here to pitch. It kind of drains you in the beginning. I felt great. I was just inconsistent." Kazmir got out of the third and fifth innings by striking out Texas J.P. Arencibia for the final out each time with a total of five runners on base. "It was pretty much the same sequence," Kazmir said. "Off-speed the first two pitches, and tried to finish him off hard. That was big those two innings." Rangers manager Ron Washington said: "Thats J.P. I dont think he can change. We gotta live with it." The victory enabled Oakland to remain two games ahead of the second-place Los Angeles Angels in the AL West. The Athletics are 7-5 against the Rangers this season. Adam Rosales had a two-run homer in the second for the Rangers, and Adrian Beltre added a solo shot off reliever Evan Scribner in the eighth. Beltre was 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Miles Mikolas (1-3) allowed seven earned runs on seven hits and four walks in 4 2-3 innings. He was coming off his first win as a major league starter, over the Yankees July 21. "I executed well and made the transition well in the New York game, and kind of fell back into (bad habits)," Mikolas said. "Its hard to break those bad habits, so well do more work on it." Jaso also has an 11-game hitting streak against the Rangers. "I dont know what it is. Ive hit some home runs here. The warm weather is nice, and they have a lot of righties." Jasos single was against Mikolas. Washington brought in left-hander Ryan Feierabend in to face Jaso in the fifth, and he ripped his two-run double with two out. NOTES: Oakland activated INF Alberto Callaspo (strained right hamstring) from the disabled list and optioned 1B Nate Freiman to Triple-A Sacramento. . Rangers LHP Derek Holland is scheduled to pitch two innings in his first game this season Wednesday on an injury-rehab assignment for Double-A Frisco. Holland, on the 60-day disabled list following off-season surgery on his left knee, threw in the bullpen and took fielding practice before Sundays game. ... Texas rookie RHP Roman Mendez pitched a perfect eighth inning. He has not allowed a run in 11 innings during his first eight major league games. ... RHP Nick Tepesch, who left Saturdays start in the seventh inning because of a sore left knee, said he plans to make his next scheduled start Friday in Cleveland. 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Mars announced Saturday that the Rock and Roll Hall of Famers will join him as part of his halftime show. Super Bowl halftime performers often have collaborators.SEATTLE -- Bartolo Colon watched the line drive fall into the outfield grass and applauded. It was all Colon could do after his attempt to toss the first perfect game in New York Mets history was thwarted. Colon came within seven outs of a perfect game on Wednesday afternoon, before giving up a two-out single to Robinson Cano in the seventh inning of the Mets 3-2 win over the Mariners. Colon left a 2-2 fastball elevated on the outer half of the plate and Cano served the pitch into left field, dropping it well in front of Eric Young Jr. "Youre a little disappointed when they get a hit, but thats what theyre trying to do," Colon said through an interpreter. "Theyre trying to get a hit and break up the no-hitter." New York manager Terry Collins went one step further than disappointment. He was certain if Colon was able to get Cano to finish off the seventh he would have completed the perfect game. Collins was the Mets manager when Johan Santana ended New Yorks franchise drought without a no-hitter in 2012. "No doubt. There is no doubt in my mind that if he got by Cano he ramps it up. You see it a lot," Collins said. "But you know, great game by him." A no-hitter is one of the few things missing from Colons resume. He has a Cy Young. Hes won a World Series title. Hes made a career comeback after injuries left him out of baseball in 2010. At age 41, Colon is pitching well enough that hes regularly being talked about as trade fodder for teams needing a starter with the non-waiver trade deadline rapidly approaching. "I dont know anything about that," Colon said. "Those are decisions for the upper management and you cant control that stuff." Colon retired the first 20 batters he faced before Canos single. Colon then had to hold on as Seattle rallied in the eighth and came within inches of tying the game on Brad Millers RBI double that hit off the top of the wall. Colon (9-8) improved to 13-1 all-time at Safeco Field, including his dominance of the Mariners when he was pitching for the Angels. Seattle had no answers for the rotunnd right-hander, who gave up two runs and three hits in 7 1-3 innings.dddddddddddd "He was a Cy Young class guy," Cano said. "He knows how to pitch. Back in the day when the guy threw hard, everything was middle of the plate, fastball. Now you see a different guy that moves the ball, both sides, and a pretty good change up." Colon threw a one-hitter for the Angels against the Yankees in 2000 and was cruising until the seventh. He got the first two outs of the seventh, but Canos single ended the bid for perfection. Cano was hitting .400 against Colon entering the game. Corey Hart led off the eighth walking on a 3-2 pitch, just the fourth three-ball count Colon reached. After a fly out, Dustin Ackley singled to right, bringing the tying run to the plate. Miller nearly tied it with one swing, doubling off the top of the wall in right-centre, missing a home run by only a couple of feet. Colon was replaced by Jeurys Familia and Willie Bloomquists infield groundout scored another, but Endy Chavez struck out to end the threat. Jenrry Mejia got his 13th save pitching the ninth, despite giving up a pair of singles. "(Colon) was awesome today. Great command of his fastball. We didnt use his off-speed that much," Mets catcher Anthony Recker said. "... It made my job really easy." Daniel Murphy had an RBI double in the first and David Wright had an RBI single in the seventh. New York also had a score in the fifth when Ruben Tejada was hit in the helmet with a 94 mph fastball from Seattle starter Taijuan Walker. Tejada instantly crumpled to the ground before walking off the field on his own power. Tejada passed all initial testing and was expected to fly with the team to Milwaukee. "It scared me," Tejada said. NOTES: The Mets have 38 one-hitters in franchise history. ... Colons only loss at Safeco field came in 2001 during the Mariners 116-win season. ... Seattle LHP James Paxton (back) is expected to throw one more rehab start this weekend in the minors before possibly rejoining the club. Blackhawks Jerseys Store Cheap Wild Jerseys Cheap Red Wings Jerseys Cheap Maple Leafs Jerseys Penguins Jerseys Store Capitals Jerseys For Sale Blues Jerseys Store Cheap Kings Jerseys Adidas Lightning Jerseys Stars Jerseys For Sale Cheap Predators Jerseys Ducks Store Sharks Jerseys For Sale Cheap Sabres Jerseys Rangers Jerseys For Sale ' ' '