ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) -- The Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics saved all their swings for the real thing.

On a day in which neither team took batting practice because of morning showers, Texas overcame an eight-run deficit for the first time in team history, rallying past the Athletics 17-16 Friday night.

Pinch-hitter Mike Lamb, who was hitting .182, singled home the winning run with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning.

The A's and Rangers combined for six homers, six doubles and 37 hits in the majors' highest-scoring game of the season.

The Rangers led 5-0 after the second inning, but allowed 15 runs over the next four. Texas trailed 15-7 after six innings and was down 16-10 before tying it with a six-run eighth.

It was the most runs Texas allowed while still winning a game.

"In my 34 years, you talk about having seen it all, but this was proof there are things that you haven't seen," Rangers manager Johnny Oates said. "I don't care how much fight you've got, you don't come back from a deficit like that."

The Rangers loaded the bases in the ninth on a single, walk and an error by pitcher Jeff Tam (0-2). Lamb singled home Ivan Rodriguez.

"Now you will believe me when I say no lead is safe in this day and age," said Oakland manager Art Howe.

John Wetteland (1-1), the only one of 10 pitchers to not allow a run, allowed one hit in the ninth for the victory.

The clubs tied an AL record when 18 players scored -- every starter did it -- matching a feat accomplished by the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Athletics on June 29, 1950. The major league record for players scoring in one game is 22, set by the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs on Aug. 25, 1922.

Nine of Texas' 10 position players had a hit, a run and a RBI. The 33 combined runs tied a Texas record, originally set April 19, 1996 against Boston.

"It was fun," Lamb said. "Balls flying all over the place, a lot of runs being scored. It was nerve-wracking, but it's good to come out with a win."

Scott Sheldon drove in four runs for Texas, which had 21 hits. Ben Grieve drove in four runs for the Athletics.

Oakland, coming off a 14-5 win over Kansas City on Wednesday, got home runs by Frank Menechino, Ramon Hernandez, Jeremy Giambi, Adam Piatt and Terrence Long.

Rodriguez homered for Texas.

Oakland trailed 5-0 in the second, tied it in the fifth, and then fell behind 7-5 in the bottom half. The Athletics opened a 15-7 lead with five runs each in the sixth and seventh innings.

With Texas trailing by six in the eighth, Rafael Palmeiro had a two-run single off Doug Jones, and Luis Alicea and Sheldon each hit two-run singles off Mike Magnante.

Darren Oliver, staked to a 5-0 lead in the second, left after five innings ahead 7-5. Reliever Matt Perisho allowed 10 runs, five hits and four walks in the next two innings.

Perisho walked the bases loaded in the sixth and Grieve hit a three-run double to the gap in left-center for an 8-7 lead. Giambi, recalled from Triple-A Sacramento before the game, followed with a two-run homer.

Piatt had a two-run homer and Miguel Tejada added a two-run double in a five-run seventh that made it 15-7. Three runs were unearned after left fielder Chad Curtis dropped Olmedo Saenz's fly ball.

"Just when you think things are at their worst, they take a turn," said Rangers shortstop Royce Clayton. "It was a wild game."

Texas scored five in the second off Mark Mulder. Sheldon, filling in for an injured David Segui, had a two-run single and Curtis had a two-run double.

Oakland had a three-run fourth that included Menechino's homer, and Hernandez tied it at 5 with a two-run homer in the fifth. Palmeiro and Ruben Mateo hit RBI singles in the bottom half.

Rodriguez had his fifth consecutive multihit game, finishing going 3-for-5 with a solo homer in the seventh.

"All I can say is that I'm glad we won it," Oliver said.

Game notes
Segui was scratched from the lineup with a strained right hip flexor sustained Thursday night against Tampa Bay. ... The Athletics are 10-4 on the road, 5-10 at home. ... The game included two pickoffs at first base in which the runner took off early. Piatt got caught in the second inning and Texas' Tom Evans was erased in the third. ... Giambi's homer off Oliver was the first of his career off a left-hander.