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Athletics-Rangers Preview

Jul 29, 2010 - 6:52 PM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Oakland (51-49) at Texas (59-42), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics have split 3-1 games to start this series in Arlington, and runs will probably be at a premium again in Thursday night's finale.

Each team will have a surging starter on the mound in the decisive game when the Rangers turn to C.J. Wilson to oppose Oakland's Vin Mazzaro.

Texas (59-42) won Tuesday's opener on Nelson Cruz's two-run homer in the 10th inning before Oakland (51-49) won Wednesday behind All-Star Trevor Cahill's eight scoreless innings. These teams have the lowest ERAs since the All-Star break, with the Rangers at 2.55 and Oakland at 2.69.

The Athletics have moved into sole possession of second place in the AL West for the first time since June 4, 7 1/2 games behind the Rangers.

Cahill yielded two hits to lower his opponent batting average to a major league-leading .196.

He moved ahead of Wilson (9-5, 3.03 ERA), who is second in the AL with a .203 mark. Wilson is 6-2 with a 2.57 ERA in his last 10 starts, allowing four hits in eight innings to earn a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

"I'd say that was the best outing I've had all year, simply because of the fact I didn't walk anybody," Wilson told the Rangers' official website. "That was the best part of it for me."

The left-hander pitched well in his first career start against Oakland on May 13, allowing one run in seven innings of a 2-1, 12-inning victory.

Mazzaro (6-2, 3.45), meanwhile, is 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA in his last five starts. He beat the Chicago White Sox on Saturday, giving up two runs over six innings in a 10-2 home victory.

"Young players usually get better and that's the case with Mazzaro," manager Bob Geren said. "He has better command of his pitches, his walks are down and his strikeout ratio is up."

The right-hander's lone career start against Texas came in his season debut May 4. He yielded four runs over three-plus innings in a 7-6 home victory.

Texas and Oakland have split eight meetings. Josh Hamilton has recorded at least a hit in all of them, going 13 for 34 with six RBIs.

Cruz is hitting .403 with three homers and 16 RBIs during a career-best 16-game hitting streak.

The Rangers placed second baseman Ian Kinsler on the 15-day disabled list with a strained groin Thursday. Kinsler, 4 for 20 without an extra-base hit and five strikeouts in his last five games, was replace on the roster by Mitch Moreland, whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Oklahoma City.

Kurt Suzuki homered and drove in two runs for Oakland on Wednesday. Suzuki is 8 for 16 with eight RBIs over his last four games.

The A's are trying to capture their season-high fifth straight series.