ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Adrian Beltre hit a walk-off homer in the ninth inning, and the Texas Rangers kept Oakland from getting closer to clinching an AL wild-card spot with a 2-1 victory against the Athletics on Thursday night.

Beltre sent a drive just over the wall in right field off Luke Gregerson (5-5) with one out for his team-leading 19th homer of the season and just his second since Aug. 10.

The A’s (86-73) lost a chance to clinch a wild-card spot when Seattle won at Toronto 7-5 earlier in the day in a game shown on the big video board in the Rangers’ ballpark.

The last-place Rangers won for the 12th time in 13 games. The A’s, who were swept by Texas in Oakland last week and started the day tied with Kansas City for the wild-card lead, have lost seven of 10.

Texas closer Neftali Feliz (2-1) pitched a scoreless ninth as the Rangers kept Oakland’s magic number for clinching a third straight playoff spot at two.

Oakland’s Coco Crisp reached base five times on two singles and three walks, but Josh Reddick went 0 for 5 behind him and never moved him up to second base.

Jason Hammel made his first start for Oakland since the birth of his second child over the weekend in Massachusetts. He had a one-hitter in the sixth when Leonys Martin reached on a bunt single with two outs, stole second and scored on Elvis Andrus’ single for a 1-1 tie.

The right-hander, just 2-6 since coming over from the Chicago Cubs in a trade at the deadline, was replaced after allowing consecutive singles to Beltre and Jake Smolinski to start the seventh. Dan Otero got two strikeouts to keep the Rangers from taking the lead.

Geovany Soto, playing at Texas for the first time since the Rangers traded him to Oakland a month ago, put the A’s up 1-0 with a sacrifice bunt in the sixth. Brandon Moss held up at third until the bunt was down and scored easily.

Texas right-hander Colby Lewis bounced back from a rough start at the Los Angeles Angels by allowing one run in seven innings. He pitched around five walks and six hits, striking out seven. The leadoff hitter reached five times.

With a season-ending no-decision, Lewis tied Japanese ace Yu Darvish for the team lead with 10 wins.

Trainer’s Room

Athletics: Melvin all but ruled out a regular-season return for OF Craig Gentry and C John Jaso, both sidelined by concussions. Melvin said Gentry took some pitches in the bullpen, but said the return of either player this week was a long shot.

 ... OF Brandon Moss is planning to have surgery following the season after an MRI revealed torn cartilage in his right hip.

Rangers: LHP Martin Perez, who had reconstructive elbow surgery in May, will start a throwing program in November at home in Venezuela. He will return to Texas in December for a checkup before going back to Venezuela. He will return in January and stay in Texas until spring training.

UP NEXT

Athletics: LHP Scott Kazmir (14-9, 3.63) is 0-4 with an 8.58 ERA over his past six starts and has the second-highest ERA in the majors since the All-Star break.

Rangers: RHP Nick Tepesch (5-10, 4.14) has a 2.96 ERA in four September starts. He gave up one run in seven innings in his last start against the Los Angeles Angels. He got a no-decision in a 2-1 win.