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Athletics-Rangers Preview

Jul 26, 2010 - 4:54 PM By TOM CASTRO STATS Senior Editor

Oakland (50-48) at Texas (58-41), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Cliff Lee has done exactly what the Texas Rangers thought he would when they acquired him from Seattle. The left-hander can help the Rangers further solidify their AL West lead when they begin a series against the surging Oakland Athletics.

Lee looks to turn in his third straight outstanding effort for Texas in the opener of a three-game home set Tuesday night.

The Rangers (58-41) gave themselves the biggest division lead in baseball by taking three of four from Los Angeles this weekend, winning 6-4 on Sunday. Texas moved to 8-3 in its last 11 thanks to its latest strong pitching performance.

Tommy Hunter allowed three runs over 6 1-3 innings to become the first Ranger to win his first eight decisions in a season. Texas gave up six runs in the three victories over the Angels.

The first of those wins came courtesy of Lee (9-4, 2.56 ERA), who pitched 8 1-3 innings and gave up two runs in a 3-2 victory Thursday. He posted a 2.08 ERA in his last two outings and has two complete games among his three starts with the Rangers.

Lee has combined with Hunter and C.J. Wilson to give Texas a dominant top three in the starting rotation.

"All they've done is put together quality starts one after another," catcher Bengie Molina said.

Texas also brings some hot hitters into the series against Oakland. Josh Hamilton had a two-run triple and an RBI single Sunday, going 3 for 4 to raise his major league-leading batting average to .357.

Nelson Cruz had two hits and drove in a run, extending his career-best hitting streak to 14 games. He is batting .414 with two homers and 14 RBIs in that span.

Michael Young has an eight-game hit streak, going 11 for 33.

Those players could provide a tough challenge for the A's Gio Gonzalez (9-6, 3.75), although he has given Hamilton and Young trouble. The two players are a combined 3 for 12 against him, though Hamilton's one hit was a home run. Cruz has never faced the left-hander.

Gonzalez is 3-1 with a 2.70 ERA in his last six starts. That has helped spark his team's recent run, as Oakland has won nine of 11 to put pressure on second-place Los Angeles.

The A's (50-48) defeated Chicago 6-4 on Sunday, with Dallas Braden winning for the first time in 10 starts since his perfect game May 9 and Kurt Suzuki driving in three runs.

Michael Wuertz finished with a 1-2-3 ninth for his third save, as closer Andrew Bailey was unavailable for the second straight game because of back spasms. Manager Bob Geren, whose team is 7 1-2 games behind Texas, hopes Bailey will be available Tuesday as the A's try to pull closer to the Rangers.

"It's just another series, but at this stage, every series is a big series," Geren told the team's official website. "We'll see them again at home soon, so those are six big games right there."

Lee is 4-2 with a 2.61 ERA in 10 games versus Oakland. Gonzalez is 1-1 with a 3.38 ERA in two starts against Texas, getting lifted after allowing four runs in four innings of a 10-1 loss May 12 at Rangers Ballpark.