ARLINGTON, Texas -- In typical Colby Lewis fashion, the Texas Rangers right-hander was happier that his team registered a 4-0 win over the Oakland Athletics on Friday than the fact that he had a perfect game into the eighth inning.

Lewis was perfect against Oakland into the eighth inning until third baseman Danny Valencia lined a 0-1 pitch to left for a leadoff double.

While the chance at history was dashed for Lewis, he did finish with a complete game two-hitter. In doing so, he became the first Texas right-hander to record a shutout on two hits or less in Arlington since Nolan Ryan no-hit Toronto on May 1, 1991.

Lewis had a pair of dazzling defensive plays made behind him to get to the eighth inning at 69 pitches.

"I just wanted to go out there and have a good game," said Lewis, who was 0-3 in his last three starts and had allowed 15 earned runs. "The stuff wasn't special in the 'pen or nothing like that. Nothing was really different than any other night. I was just able to get quick outs."

Lewis was aware of where he was after going through the Oakland order the first time through. The second time through he had spectacular defensive plays made behind him.

Center fielder Delino DeShields charged in and made a diving catch on a sinking liner hit by Oakland's Josh Reddick to end the fourth inning. Oakland's Max Muncy opened the sixth with a liner to right that second baseman Rougned Odor made an over-the-shoulder catch on.

Lewis needed just 10 pitches to get through the seventh before Valencia nailed a slider to left and then tipped his cap to Lewis when he got to second base.

Valencia felt like Oakland had some good at-bats against Lewis before he upset the Globe Life crowd.

"I'd be lying if I said you don't want to be the person to break it up," Valencia said. "You almost want to be the villain in that situation, especially in front of their home crowd, but we're still trying to win games."

Lewis, who threw just 97 pitches, wasn't upset that his chance at history had come to an end.

"I don't look at myself as having no-hitter or perfect-game stuff," he said. "I was like 'Whatever. It is what it is.' You still have to do your job. I don't throw 97 mph or have devastating stuff."

His stuff was devastating Friday though, as he set a new career high with 15 wins. He was also the first Texas pitcher to carry a perfect hitter into the eighth inning since Yu Darvish went 8 2/3 innings on April 2, 2013, against Houston.

"He had everything going tonight," Texas catcher Chris Gimenez said. "This was definitely one of those nights where that (a perfect game) easily could have happened. Unfortunately, we lost it in the eighth but ultimately we got what was most important."

Texas, which had been shut out in its last two games, gave Lewis the only runs he needed in the first inning against Oakland starter Jesse Chavez (7-15).

First baseman Mitch Moreland drilled a two-run double into the corner in right field in the first inning to spot Lewis a 2-0 lead. Odor followed that with a double to left to score Moreland.

It was all Lewis after that. The first Oakland hitter to get a three-ball count came with two outs in the sixth. But Lewis got Oakland catcher Josh Phegley to fly out to left. Lewis then fell behind shortstop Eric Sogard 3-0, but Sogard ended up flying out to right on a 3-1 pitch.

"He was on the corners and down," Oakland manager Bob Melvin said of Lewis. "He throws a lot of sliders, especially to right handers. And not much was in the middle of the plate. The balls that we did hit hard, which were several, were right at people."

NOTES: Texas OF Josh Hamilton had surgery on his left knee Friday and had a small tear in his medial meniscus repaired. There is no timetable for his return. ... The Rangers officially recalled RHP Chi Chi Gonzalez from Triple-A Round Rock. Gonzalez will start Sunday against Oakland. ... Oakland LHP Daniel Coulombe, who was acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, will be the 29th pitcher used by the Athletics this season. That's the most in club history. ... OF Delino DeShields was back in the starting lineup for the Rangers after missing three games with a mild left knee sprain. ... Texas RHP Roman Mendez, who was designated for assignment last week, was claimed off waivers by Boston. ... Oakland RHP Chris Bassitt, who hasn't pitched since Aug. 26 because of a sore shoulder, is now playing catch from 105 feet and likely will throw a bullpen soon. There's still a chance he could make another start this season.