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May 5, 2010 - 6:24 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Texas (14-12) at Oakland (13-14), 3:35 p.m. EDT

Colby Lewis has played an unexpectedly significant role in the Texas Rangers' pitching success. His performance with the Oakland Athletics three years ago hardly suggested he could be so effective.

Coming off the most dominant start of his career, Lewis faces his former team Wednesday as the Rangers try to bounce back from a loss to the Athletics.

Texas (14-13) had won four straight before losing the middle contest of this three-game set 7-6 on Tuesday night. The Rangers' lead over the A's (14-14) in the AL West slipped to one-half game.

Texas has every reason to feel confident about its chances of rebounding with Lewis (3-0, 2.76 ERA) on the mound. He is off to an outstanding start after not having pitched in the majors since 2007, when he had a 6.45 ERA in one start and 25 relief appearances for Oakland.

The right-hander's last outing was particularly impressive. He surrendered three hits in nine innings Friday night before Texas beat Seattle 2-0 in the 12th.

It was the longest career outing for Lewis, who retired 21 straight batters at one point and struck out 10 for the third time in five starts. Lewis is 2-0 with a 3.98 ERA in four starts against Oakland.

Another big game from Vladimir Guerrero would certainly help Texas give Lewis some run support this time. Guerrero hit a grand slam and had five RBIs on Tuesday, ending a string of seven games in which he didn't drive in a run.

"For us to put up runs like that and see them go to waste is very disappointing," said Scott Feldman, who started for Texas and gave up seven runs.

The Rangers now face Trevor Cahill (0-1, 10.80), who struggled in his first start of the season Friday night, surrendering eight runs in five innings of a 10-2 loss to Toronto. Cahill gave up three home runs after allowing a rookie franchise-record 27 last season.

The 22-year-old right-hander was called up to pitch in place of Brett Anderson, who has a strained forearm.

Cahill went 3-1 with a 2.45 ERA - his lowest against any AL opponent - in four starts versus the Rangers as a rookie.

The A's didn't get a strong start from Vin Mazzaro on Tuesday, but reliever Andrew Bailey made sure they secured the victory. Bailey got the final four outs for his fourth save in as many chances.

Bailey, who has yet to allow a run in 2010, extended his scoreless streak to 19 2-3 innings, dating to Sept. 6. He has converted 25 straight save opportunities.

Bailey wouldn't have had a chance for another save if Oakland's struggling lineup hadn't come through. The A's managed five runs over their previous two games before busting out Tuesday.

Ryan Sweeney drove in a career-high five runs with three hits, including a homer to snap a career-worst 50-game drought without a long ball.

"It's good to get that zero off the board," Sweeney said. "I watched some tape to try and get my swing back to what it was before."

The right fielder is hitting .429 (15 for 35) with 13 RBIs in his last nine games against the Rangers.