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--> --> Zito takes control on the mound for the A's OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - When Barry Zito's curveball is at its nastiest, it spikes quickly and whiplashes into the dirt, leaving even the best hitters swinging at thin air. The Texas Rangers had the misfortune to run up against some of Zito's most unhittable stuff. Zito pitched a four-hitter and struck out 10 as the Oakland Athletics kept running away with a playoff berth, beating the Rangers 7-1 Monday night for their eighth straight victory. "The curve was looking good today," said Zito, who won his fifth straight start. "It was about my nine (out of 10) curveball. That's what we need coming down the stretch to put this out of reach." With a four-run first inning and another overwhelming start by Zito, the A's cruised to their 14th win in 15 games. After sweeping Baltimore and Tampa Bay last week, they've taken all the drama out of the AL wild card race. The A's are 11 games ahead of Minnesota for the final playoff berth - and with the Yankees rained out against Boston, Oakland (87-57) moved a half-game ahead of New York (86-57) for the majors' second-best record. "It would be nice to have an outstanding record, but we're pleased with what we've accomplished," Oakland manager Art Howe said. "We want to finish this off as soon as possible and get some guys some rest." Zito (13-8), the AL's pitcher of the month for August, has been nearly unbeatable over his last nine starts, and the Rangers never came close to solving him. It was his fourth career complete game, his third this season. Zito retired the first 10 hitters before Gabe Kapler's fourth-inning single, and he took a two-hit shutout into the ninth before Mike Young homered. His high-arching curveball mystified the Rangers as he improved to 7-1 with an 0.83 ERA and 61 strikeouts since July 29. Though the rest of the AL - especially New York - is aware of the A's three aces lurking in the postseason rotation, the Rangers have unpleasant firsthand experience with all three. "He was outstanding," Texas manager Jerry Narron said of Zito. "He was in command of all his pitches, and he threw strikes where he wanted. The three best games against us this season were (thrown by Tim) Hudson here, (Mark) Mulder at our place, and now Zito tonight." The A's have been baseball's best team since late June (52-17), but their run to the wild card has been so effortless that playoff fever hasn't had a chance to grip Oakland yet. Just 12,115 fans filled the Coliseum for another near-flawless performance by the home team. If the A's can clinch the wild card in the next week or so, Howe plans to give his stars plenty of rest, and he'll get his three aces in order for a first-round series, probably against the Yankees. Mariners 5, Angels 1 Freddy Garcia (16-5) allowed three hits in eight shutout innings and matched his season high with eight strikeouts as visiting Seattle (104-40) lowered its magic number for clinching the AL West to two. The Mariners, on their sixth winning streak of five or more games, have a chance to break the major league record of 116 wins in a season, set by the 1906 Chicago Cubs. Troy Glaus hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth off Arthur Rhodes, who completed the six-hitter. David Bell keyed Seattle's 13-hit attack by driving in three runs. Ismael Valdes (9-10) gave up three runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings. "We're just going to try to stay sharp," Johnny Damon said. "We know we're the best team - we've been playing the best baseball since the All-Star game. We just want to continue it." Jeremy Giambi hit a two-run homer to lead Oakland's 12-hit attack. Six players drove in a run, and every starter except Frank Menechino got a hit. Texas, which has won five straight series, lost for just the third time in 11 games. Mariners 5, Angels 1 Freddy Garcia (16-5) allowed three hits in eight shutout innings and matched his season high with eight strikeouts as visiting Seattle (104-40) lowered its magic number for clinching the AL West to two. The Mariners, on their sixth winning streak of five or more games, have a chance to break the major league record of 116 wins in a season, set by the 1906 Chicago Cubs. Troy Glaus hit an RBI single with two outs in the ninth off Arthur Rhodes, who completed the six-hitter. David Bell keyed Seattle's 13-hit attack by driving in three runs. Ismael Valdes (9-10) gave up three runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings. David Bell keyed Seattle's 13-hit attack by driving in three runs. Ismael Valdes (9-10) gave up three runs and nine hits in 6 2-3 innings. Myette came out after flubbing a catch while covering first base in the second inning. He yielded six hits and six runs in 1 2-3 innings. "I need to come out of the gates throwing strikes and getting ahead of guys," Myette said. Email your... Technical questions & comments to: WebMaster Daily Tidings editorial comments & questions to: Editor Visit our other Oregon Newspapers... | Albany Democrat-Herald | Ashland Daily Tidings | Corvallis Gazette-Times | | Lebanon Express | Newport News-Times | Springfield News | Cottage Grove Sentinel | Ashland Daily Tidings 1661 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland, OR 97520 Telephone 541-482-3456 © Copyright 2001 Lee Northwest Publishing