• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Athletics-Rangers Preview

May 30, 2009 - 5:48 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Oakland (18-26) at Texas (27-19), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Strong pitching helped the AL-best Texas Rangers sweep a doubleheader from the last-place Oakland Athletics.

The Rangers now hope Brandon McCarthy can give them another stellar start Saturday night when the West rivals continue their four-game series.

Texas (29-19), off to its best start after 48 games since going 31-17 in 1998, beat Oakland 6-3 and 5-2 to sweep Friday's doubleheader. The club used solid performances from starters Scott Feldman and Tommy Hunter to extend its division lead to 4 1/2 games over Los Angeles.

The Rangers, who have won six of eight, hope McCarthy (4-2, 4.67 ERA) can give them another strong start while building on his first career complete game.

The right-hander was outstanding Sunday, throwing a nine-hitter while striking out six in a 5-0 win at Houston. It was his third consecutive start in which he's reached at least the seventh inning, going 1-1 with a 2.74 ERA over that span after posting a 3-1 record despite a 6.10 ERA in his previous six outings.

"It's a confidence thing more than anything else," said McCarthy, who looks to win consecutive starts for the first time since May 4-10, 2007. "It's just knowing I can get through that deep in a game and still make quality pitches."

McCarthy's recent performances appear to have eased some concerns regarding his health. A number of injuries, including a pair of shoulder ailments, limited him to 28 games over the past two seasons after being acquired in a five-player deal from the Chicago White Sox in December 2006.

"They talk about his stamina," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I think that question's finally answered."

McCarthy, though, is 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA in five games - three starts - against the A's. He lost to them again May 7, lasting just four innings after surrendering seven runs and seven hits in a 9-4 loss at Oakland.

While Texas is one game ahead of the New York Yankees for the best record in the AL, Oakland (18-28) owns the worst record in the league.

The A's are looking to snap a three-game slide after showing some promise with a season-high three-game winning streak during which they hit .281 with 16 runs. They've plated six total runs with a .198 average in the last three contests.

"It's a letdown," A's manager Bob Geren said following Friday's sweep. "We've been playing pretty good. That puts a damper on things."

Geren will turn to rookie Brett Anderson (2-4, 4.98), who is looking to win a third consecutive start.

The 21-year-old left-hander has a 2.25 ERA in his last two outings after going 0-4 with a 6.03 ERA in his six previous starts. That stretch included a solid performance while not getting a decision against the Rangers on April 28, holding them to three runs - one earned - and three hits in five innings of a 5-4 win.

Anderson was impressive Monday, yielding one run and six hits in six innings of a 6-1 victory over Seattle.

"My command was not as good today as my last start, but I had good fastball velocity, for some reason," Anderson said. "My last two starts, we've come out and scored runs early. That eases things out there for me. It helps everything."