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Athletics-Rangers Preview

Aug 27, 2010 - 4:39 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Oakland (63-62) at Texas (72-54), 8:05 p.m. EDT

If there is to be any drama in the AL West race this season, the Oakland Athletics may need to make their move this weekend.

The first-place Texas Rangers would rather extend their 8 1/2-game lead as they begin a three-game series with the visiting A's on Friday night.

It would likely take a major meltdown by Texas (72-55) if any team is going to prevent the Rangers from winning their first division title since 1999, but a sweep by second-place Oakland (63-63) this weekend would make the task more realistic.

That will be difficult based on the Rangers' recent play. Although Texas failed to complete a four-game sweep of AL Central-leading Minnesota on Thursday night, losing 6-4, the club has still won four of five overall and 11 of 15 at home since the All-Star break.

A resurgent Vladimir Guerrero has certainly helped. The 35-year-old designated hitter has gone 8 for 20 with three homers and seven RBIs in his last five games, a reassuring stretch after he had hit .235 with one homer in his previous 34 contests.

Tommy Hunter (10-2, 3.68 ERA) has also provided a major boost for the Rangers, who are 12-3 in the right-hander's 15 starts this season.

Hunter returns to the mound after setting a new career high in wins Sunday against Baltimore. He did not record a walk or a strikeout in eight innings of the 6-4 victory, allowing three runs and five hits.

He was the first pitcher in the majors to work eight innings without a walk or a strikeout since Detroit's Justin Verlander in May 2006.

After posting a 9.39 ERA in his previous four starts, Hunter seems to have settled upon a formula for success.

"When you throw two-seamers, changeups, cutters and curveballs for strikes and you're able to be efficient with your pitches, you'll have a good outing," he said.

Despite a 6.00 ERA in three outings against Oakland, Hunter is 2-0 against the A's thanks to ample run support from his teammates.

That may be tougher to provide against Oakland's Brett Anderson (3-4, 2.86), who is among the reasons the A's lead the AL with a 3.48 ERA.

The left-hander has a 2.33 ERA in four August starts, working seven innings in three of them, although he's just 1-1 this month due to sparse support and bullpen woes.

Anderson allowed two runs in seven innings Saturday against Tampa Bay, striking out a season-high eight, but Oakland reliever Craig Breslow gave up three runs in the eighth and the A's lost 5-4.

"I thought I was able to minimize the damage and I got some big strikeouts, so it was a pretty decent outing," said Anderson, who hasn't faced the Rangers in 2010 after going 1-1 with a 4.03 ERA in four starts against them last year.

The A's opened their 10-game road trip in Cleveland, allowing four total runs in a three-game series but missing out on a chance for a sweep with Thursday night's 3-2 loss.

"We'll get on the flight and go get 'em (Friday)," manager Bob Geren told the A's official website. "We have to be ready."

Oakland is 25-36 on the road, including 2-4 at Texas.