Athletics @ Rangers (August 25th-27th)

[Molina00]

Projected Matchups
Game 1: Barry Zito (13-8, 3.76 ERA) vs. Edinson Volquez (1-2, 4.02 ERA)
7:35 PM Central on KDFI

Game 2: Joe Blanton (13-10, 4.47 ERA) vs. Adam Eaton (3-3, 4.45 ERA)
7:05 PM Central on FSN

Game 3: Dan Haren (12-9, 3.79 ERA) vs. Vicente Padilla (12-8, 4.38 ERA)
7:05 PM Central on FSN

Game 1 Matchup Notes
Zito: He has been dominating on the road going 9-2 with a 3.03 ERA in 14 starts. In 4 starts against Texas this year Zito has gone 1-2 with a 6.76 ERA in that span and gave up 6 runs on 11 hits in 5 innings for a loss in his last start against the Rangers.

Volquez: In his only other start against Oakland this year, earlier this month, Volquez gave up 4 runs on 5 hits over 5 innings for the loss. He did not pitch well against the Tigers in his last start but shutout the Mariners over 7 innings 2 starts ago.

Game 2 Matchup Notes
Blanton: In 7 career games against the Rangers, Blanton has gone 2-2 with a 4.37 ERA and is 1-0 with a 3.27 ERA in 2 starts against them this year. He has pitched very well in August going 2-2 with a 2.88 ERA in 4 starts.

Eaton: Adam has pitched well in his last 3 starts going 2-1 with an ERA of 4.00 and has a 3.78 ERA at home this year. This will be his first start of the year against the A's. In 2 other starts against AL West opponents at home this year Eaton has gone 2-0 and allowed just 4 runs in 13 innings of work.

Game 3 Matchup Notes
Haren: In his last start, against the Blue Jays, Haren was bombed for 9 runs on 11 hits in 5.2 innings, but he still won the game. This will be only his 2nd start against Texas this year. In his first, in April, he allowed just 1 run on 4 hits over 8 innings but got a no decision.

Padilla: Vicente has been hit hard in his last 6 starts going 2-3 with a 5.14 ERA. He still has a good home record at 6-3 but his ERA at home is up over 5 now. He is 2-1 with a 3.80 ERA in 4 starts against Oakland so far this year

[Molina00]

Despite only being down by 3 runs, the Rangers are really starting this series off in a horrible way. Zito has no-hit Texas through 6 innings and would have a perfect game going if not for a walk to DeRosa. Volquez did not pitch horrible but it was not good enough. He allowed 3 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks in 4 innings before giving way to Josh Rupe who has 3 K's through 2.1 innings so far.

[Molina00]

Zito no-hit the Rangers through 7 before giving up a hit to DeRosa in the 8th. The A's destroyed Rick Bauer and C.J. Wilson in the 9th scoring 6 runs to take a 9-0 lead. The Rangers mounted a mini-rally in the bottom of the 9th scoring 3 runs including a 2-run triple by Carlos Lee, his 1st triple as a Ranger. Texas lost 9-3 and fell to a season high 8 games out of first place.

[Molina00]

Today's game hasn't gone all that well either. Eaton gave up 4 runs on 6 hits in 3 innings and was pulled. Joaquin Benoit has been on target though striking out 3 in 3 scoreless innings to keep the Rangers in the game. Texas went into the bottom of the 6th down 4-0 before finally scoring to make it 4-1. Currently runners on the corners with 2 outs and DeRosa at the plate with a 2-1 count.

[Molina00]

So much for DeRo being the hero. He grounded out to end the inning. Rangers trail 4-1 going into the 7th.

[Molina00]

The Rangers rallied late scoring 2 runs in 7th to make it a 4-3 game, but that was all they could manage. The A's added 1 more run in the 8th off Wes Littleton to take a 5-3 lead and win the game. Carlos Lee was all the offense for Texas going 3 for 4 with a double and driving in all 3 Ranger runs. Lee is now 4 RBI short of his 3rd career 100+ RBI season.

[Molina00]

Tonight's game is actually going well so far. The Rangers lead 3-0 after 3 innings thanks in part to a Matt Stairs 2-run homerun and Vicente Padilla with 3 innings of no-hit work. Padilla has also struck out 3 and Gary Matthews Jr. hit his 40th double of the season.

[Molina00]

Padilla has worked into into a 4th inning jam. He gave up a 1-out double to Bradley and after a couple of walks the bases are now loaded with 2 outs.

[Molina00]

Padilla strikes out Nick Swisher looking to get out the jam without any damage.

[Providence A's]

I'd love for the A's to sweep, but I'll take 2 out of 3 again...where are the other Ranger fans lately?

[Molina00]

where are the other Ranger fans lately?

Apparently not as dedicated as me.
I didn't have a lot of expectations coming into the series so I'll settle for 1 win.

Padilla pitched a pretty solid game and worked out of several 2-out, runners in scoring position jams. He finished giving up just 4 hits and striking out 8 over 8 scoreless innings picking up his 13th win of the season. He is now 1 win shy of tying his career high of 14 set in 2002 and 2003. Aki pitched a scoreless 9th for his 28th save of the season.

Matthews and Young were a combined 5 for 8 at the top of the order and Matt Stairs hit a critical 2-out, 2-run homerun in the 2nd inning and the Rangers went on to win 3-0.

Michael Young is now only 27 hits shy of his 4th straight 200+ hit season.