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Athletics-Rangers Preview

May 31, 2009 - 5:38 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Oakland (18-29) at Texas (30-19), 3:05 p.m. EDT

The Texas Rangers say they haven't been happy with their offensive production recently despite averaging nearly six runs a game over the last week.

The Oakland Athletics certainly aren't seeing a problem.

The first-place Rangers look to complete a four-game sweep of the Athletics for the first time in nearly 23 years on Sunday in Texas.

After sweeping a doubleheader Friday, Texas (30-19) - which has the AL's best record - rolled to a 14-1 rout Saturday for its seventh win in nine games. Hank Blalock and Marlon Byrd hit back-to-back homers and the Rangers totaled 17 hits.

Texas has now equaled the 1996 team for the second-best start in club history. In 1998, the team went 31-18.

The Rangers have been averaging 5.8 runs in their last nine games, but were hitting only .208 in the previous five contests. On Saturday, every starter except Andruw Jones had at least one hit, with six players recording multihit games.

"Our approach has been a little off, so we've made it a point to have better at-bats," said Michael Young, who had three hits.

The Rangers haven't swept the A's in a four-game set since June 19-22, 1986. Ending that drought could happen given the way the A's have been performing.

Oakland managed four singles and five hits on Saturday. The A's have scored six runs in the series and are hitting only .202.

Saturday's setback was the injury-riddled Athletics' seventh in 10 games. Beforehand, they placed outfielder Travis Buck on the 15-day disabled list with a strained left oblique. Third baseman Jack Hannahan also missed the game with back spasms and designated hitter Jack Cust sat out with back problems as well. The A's called up Aaron Cunningham and Gregorio Petit.

"Obviously, you gotta have moves," manager Bob Geren told the A's official Web site. "We're day to day with so many guys."

Oakland (18-29) will try to snap its four-game losing streak when it hands the ball to Dallas Braden (4-5, 3.69 ERA).

He earned his first win since beating Texas on April 30 when he faced Seattle on Tuesday. The left-hander allowed three runs and nine hits over seven innings of a 4-3 victory.

Braden pitched five scoreless innings versus the Rangers last month, allowing five hits while striking out six in a 4-2 victory. It was his first career win in four starts and three relief appearances against Texas, who will send out Kevin Millwood (4-4, 3.25) after his shortest start of the season.

The right-hander followed up a complete game against Detroit on May 21 by giving up three runs and nine hits over 5 2-3 innings of a 7-3 loss to the Yankees on Tuesday.

Millwood is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA in his last four starts against Oakland. He pitched eight innings against the A's on April 28 allowing four runs - two earned - and 10 hits in a 5-4 victory.

Oakland, which plays its next four against the White Sox in Chicago, has the AL's second-worst road record at 7-16.