Rangers 6 - 1 Athletics
Final
  for this game

A's try to stay in playoff hunt against Rangers

Sep 17, 2014 - 3:08 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Jeff Samardzija hopes to better Oakland's playoff hopes on Wednesday evening when the struggling Athletics play the middle contest of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers.

The A's have lost 13 of their last 18 games and have gone from challenging for an American League West title to owning just a one-game lead for the first of two wild card spots in the AL.

Samardzija has endured his fair share of tough luck since joining Oakland, sitting under .500 through 13 starts at 4-5 despite a solid 3.41 earned run average.

The righty pitched well enough to avoid a third straight losing start last Wednesday versus the Chicago White Sox, but also ended up with a no-decision as Oakland lost a 2-1 game despite the hurler giving up just six hits over seven scoreless innings.

Samardzija will face Texas for the first time.

The Rangers will send left-hander Derek Holland to the mound and he is looking to finish strong after missing most of the campaign due to knee surgery.

Holland, though, has been outstanding in three starts since his return, going seven innings in each outing and giving up a total of just two runs. He has also struck out 17 and not walked a batter.

The 27-year-old yielded one run on eight hits in a no-decision on Friday versus Atlanta, leaving him 1-0 with a 0.86 ERA on the year.

Holland is 5-4 with a 3.40 ERA in 16 career games versus Oakland, including 12 starts.

Texas handed Oakland its fourth loss in six games with a 6-3 decision on Tuesday night. Jake Smolinski hit his first career homer to get the scoring started, while Robinson Chirinos, Rougned Odor and Daniel Robertson all drove in a run.

"That's one I won't forget," Smolinski said of his two-run shot in the fourth that keyed Texas' fourth straight win.

Nick Tepesch worked six innings for the positive result, allowing three runs on five hits.

Brandon Moss homered, Josh Donaldson doubled twice and Derek Norris drove in a run for the Athletics, who began their final homestand of the season.

Scott Kazmir was tagged in defeat for six runs -- four earned -- over 4 1/3 frames.

"We got beat all the way around, unfortunately. I thought we'd come ready to play," A's manager Bob Melvin said.

The Rangers have won five of seven in Oakland this season.






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