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Sep 16, 2009 - 5:10 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Oakland (65-78) at Texas (80-63), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Texas Rangers finally scored, but they know that one run over three games isn't going to help their push for the postseason.

They'll try to get their offense going Wednesday night as they try to avoid a three-game sweep by the last-place Oakland Athletics.

Texas (80-64) fell 6-1 to Oakland on Tuesday to drop 5 1/2 games behind Boston for the wild card and six games behind Los Angeles in the AL West race. The Rangers have been outscored 20-1 in the last three games.

"We're not scoring runs and we're giving up runs," manager Ron Washington said. "It is an awful time for it to happen."

David Murphy's leadoff homer in the fourth snapped the Rangers' 22-inning scoreless streak, which included consecutive shutout losses in the same homestand for only the second time in 16 seasons at Rangers Ballpark. That was all Texas could muster, though.

"We haven't showed much of anything the last few games," Murphy said. "You can give up and throw in the towel or keep fighting and show the character that we've showed all year."

Michael Young returned to the Texas lineup as the designated hitter after missing two weeks because of a strained left hamstring, but left after flying out in his only at-bat. The All-Star third baseman fouled off three of eight pitches, then pulled himself out of the game.

"I felt great in batting practice, ran around great, and then the second pitch he threw me, I got off balance, landed on my front side a little too hard and it just grabbed," Young said. "I didn't want to make it worse. I've been making too much progress."

Young said he's unlikely to play Wednesday, but could be back this weekend against the Angels, the series he had targeted for his return since he got hurt running out a grounder Sept. 1.

Oakland (66-78) has won six of seven against Texas. Rajai Davis had three hits and four RBIs to lead the way Tuesday. The center fielder is batting .411 with 12 runs scored and seven stolen bases in 13 games this month.

"I need to keep doing exactly what I've been doing, and even more," Davis said. "Once you find something that works, you want to stick with it."

The A's are trying for their first sweep in Arlington since winning four games July 21-24, 2005.

Dustin Nippert (5-2, 3.95 ERA) will make his first start for Texas since Sept. 1. Nippert had been in the bullpen, but rain over the weekend caused the Rangers to shuffle their rotation and give him Wednesday's start.

The right-hander is 3-2 with a 4.43 ERA in nine starts this year. He's 1-0 with a 2.21 ERA in four career appearances against the A's, including three starts.

Rookie Trevor Cahill (8-12, 4.74) gets the ball for Oakland. Cahill is 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in his last five starts, but gave up three runs over three innings Thursday in a 4-3, 13-inning loss to the White Sox.

The 21-year-old right-hander is 1-1 with a 4.15 ERA in two outings against the Rangers. This will be his first start in Arlington.