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OAKLAND, Calif. -- Theres something about Jarrod Parkers presence on the mound that is bringing out the best in the Oakland Athletics. Especially against Yu Darvish and the Texas Rangers. Parker got plenty of home-run help to pitch his way into Oaklands record book, and the surging As pulled into a tie atop the AL West with Texas by overpowering the Rangers 11-4 on Wednesday. "Im just trying to stay in the moment," Parker said. Parker (11-6) allowed two runs in six innings to extend his unbeaten streak to 18 straight starts, eclipsing Catfish Hunters Oakland mark set from June 2-Sept. 3, 1973. Parker struck out four and walked none. The 24-year-old has won his last nine decisions, the most by an As pitcher since Dan Haren won 10 in a row in 2007. He hasnt lost since May 22 at Texas. "He goes out there and shuts teams down," right fielder Brandon Moss said. "He puts the ball in play and doesnt walk anybody. When he gets in trouble, he finds a way to dig deep and get himself out of it. Thats what aces do." Moss, Daric Barton and Coco Crisp each hit two-run homers, and Josh Donaldson added a three-run drive for Oakland. The As handed Darvish (12-7) a loss in consecutive starts for the first time all season. Darvish gave up five runs -- matching a season high -- and tied a career-worst with six walks in five-plus innings. He is 1-5 with a 4.82 ERA against Oakland. Darvish also made a pointed gesture that appeared to signal catcher A.J. Pierzynski to go back behind the plate during a mound visit by pitching coach Mike Maddux. Pierzynski downplayed the incident. "He had a command issue. I went out there to calm him down. I wasnt paying attention," Pierzynski said. As opening day starter Brett Anderson, working his way back from a stress fracture in his right foot, allowed two runs in three innings for his second save. Manager Bob Melvin said hes trying to stretch out Andersons appearances to give the team the option of inserting him back into the rotation. A year after the As completed a three-game sweep over the Rangers to win the division on the final day, the AL West race is again shaping up as a tight one. Oakland has won eight of its last 10 to set up what should be a scintillating September. The teams play three more times in Texas from Sept. 13-16. "It should be fun," Donaldson said. The Rangers, just as they did a year ago, wilted in their final regular season game at the Oakland Coliseum. Darvish struggled with his command from the start, bouncing balls in front of the plate and piling up his pitch count. By the second, he had already matched a season high with four walks and had thrown 42 pitches. Moss sent his 26th home run of the season over the wall in right in the first, and Crisp drove in the first of his four RBIs in the second with a sacrifice fly. Leonys Martin hit an RBI double and Craig Gentry singled him home in the third to slice Oaklands lead to 3-2, but the Rangers blew their best chance to rally in the fifth. Shortstop Jed Lowrie bobbled Jim Adducis grounder and Martins sacrifice bunt moved both runners into scoring position. Jurickson Profar broke to the plate on Gentrys comebacker and was tagged out trying to get back to third. "It wasnt a good day is all," Ranger manager Ron Washington said. Bartons second home run of the season -- and first in Oakland since July 10, 2010 -- ended Darvishs day. Donaldsons 20th homer came later in the sixth against reliever Robbie Ross, and Crisps 18th in the eighth put Parker in a powerful position to make history. The only As starter with a longer unbeaten streak is Lefty Grove, who won 21 in a row from April 22-Aug. 19, 1931. The Hall of Famer also had 10 relief appearances during the streak, including one loss. Since dropping his first four decisions this season, Parker has only allowed more than three runs twice. "Hes been nails," Donaldson said. "You need a guy like Parker to come in every day and give us a chance to win, and thats what hes done for the majority of this year." NOTES: The Rangers batted out of order in the ninth but nobody reached base so the As never protested. ... Rangers SS Elvis Andrus missed his fourth straight game with a sore back. He said he couldve played, but with a day off Thursday, Washington wanted to give Andrus extra time to recover. ... Athletics C Derek Norris, who fractured his left big toe Aug. 21, said he feels "ready to go" and expects to be activated from the 15-day disabled list when eligible Thursday. ... The As send Sonny Gray (2-2, 2.57 ERA) to the mound against Brad Peacock (3-5, 5.98 ERA) in the opener of a four-game series against Houston on Thursday. Matt Garza (9-3, 3.55 ERA) goes for the Rangers on Friday at the Los Angeles Angels, who counter with C.J. Wilson (14-6, 3.35 ERA). 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Peko, a fourth-round pick in 2006, started all 16 games and a playoff loss to San Diego last season. He was second on the line with 72 tackles and had a career-high three sacks.ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Receiver Stevie Johnson is heading to his hometown San Francisco 49ers after being the odd man out in Buffalo. The Bills traded Johnson to the 49ers on Friday in a deal made before the start of the second round of the NFL draft. In exchange, Buffalo acquired an undisclosed pick next year. ESPN reported it was a conditional fourth-round selection. The deal was made a day after the Bills traded up five spots to select Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins with the fourth pick. Watkins addition was the latest in a series of moves the Bills have made to restock their receiver position, and it led to Johnson being expendable after six seasons in Buffalo. The Bills also acquired receiver Mike Williams in a trade with Tampa Bay last month. Last year, Buffalo used second- and third-round picks to draft Robert Woods and Marquise Goodwin. Johnson left Buffalo on Thursday, when he was spotted on a flight that landed in Las Vegas about an hour after Buffalo drafted Watkins. "Todays decision was not an easy one to make, especially involving a player like Stevie, who leaves everything he has on the field and is an emotional leader in our locker room," Bills general manager Doug Whaley said. "All of the decisions we make are done so in the best interest of our team." The 49ers, by comparison, had a need for receiver and were expected to address the position in the draft. San Francisco instead gained an experienced player in Johnson to fill a key spot as San Franciscos likely No. 3 receiver behind Michael Crabtree and Anquan Boldin. While Boldin received a new $12 million, two-year contract in March, Crabtree is entering the final season of his contract and San Francisco lost Mario Manningham in free agency. Johnson spent the past four seasons as a starter in Buffalo. He became the Bills first player to break 1,000 yards receiving in consecutive seasons in 2010-11, and extended the streak in 2012. 49ers first-round draft pick safety Jimmie Ward was thrilled to learn of the addittion of Johnson as the defender made the rounds at team headquarters Friday.dddddddddddd "Its awesome," Ward said. "Im a competitor so I like to play against the best guys. If youve got a lot of best guys on your team, thats only going to get me better at the end of the day." Johnsons numbers dropped last year, when he finished with 52 catches for 597 yards in 12 games. Aside from being slowed by an assortment of injuries, he was excused by the team for the final two games of the season following the death of his mother. Overall, he has 301 catches for 3,842 yards and 28 touchdowns in 75 games. Johnson is from San Francisco and played collegiately at Kentucky. The Bills selected him in the seventh round in 2008. At 6-foot-2 and 207 pounds, Johnson can play on the outside, but is best suited to play an inside slot position. Johnson is known for his outgoing personality and colorful touchdown celebrations that have, on occasion, gotten him into trouble. Former Bills coach Chan Gailey benched Johnson for the final three quarters of Buffalos 2011 season finale. The discipline occurred after Johnson was penalized a second time that season for an excessive touchdown celebration. The Bills, who havent made the playoffs in 14 seasons, are counting on Watkins to add a dynamic threat to an offence that lacked consistency last season under rookie quarterback EJ Manuel. Whaley acknowledged the risk he took with a "win-now" approach by giving up a No. 9 pick this year, plus a first- and fourth-round pick next year in trade with Cleveland to select Watkins. Thats fine with Watkins, who arrived in Buffalo earlier in the day. "Throughout my whole life Ive had high expectations of myself," Watkins said. "I cant wait to get it started." In three seasons, Watkins set 23 school records, including career marks with 240 catches and 3,391 yards. His 27 career touchdowns matched a school record. AP Sports Writer Janie McCauley in Santa Clara, California, contributed to this report. ' ' '