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Athletics-Rangers Preview

Aug 28, 2010 - 4:49 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

Oakland (63-63) at Texas (72-55), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The last time Rich Harden faced his former team, he turned in an abbreviated start that resulted in another trip to the disabled list. His return to action resulted in quite a different turn of events.

He'll pitch for the first time since not allowing any hits in his last outing when the Texas Rangers continue a weekend series Saturday night against the Oakland Athletics.

Harden (5-4, 5.00 ERA) won at Oakland (63-64) on May 3 in his first start against the team he spent his first 5 1/2 seasons with. He lasted 2 1-3 innings and gave up three runs in a 6-2 loss to the Athletics on Aug. 7, going on the DL with right shoulder tendinitis over a week later for the second time this year and ninth time in six seasons.

Texas (73-55) activated Harden on Monday, and he lasted 6 2-3 hitless innings and threw 111 pitches in a 5-0 win over Minnesota that night before he was pulled.

"I wasn't going to sit around and let him throw 120 pitches out there," manager Ron Washington said. "The seventh inning was going to be his last one anyway."

Harden improved to 2-1 with a 3.25 ERA in seven home starts.

While Harden has never thrown a no-hitter, Oakland starter Dallas Braden (8-9, 3.49) pitched a perfect game May 9 at home against Tampa Bay. The left-hander's first start against the Rays since that historic game was not as successful as he gave up three runs in six innings of a 3-2 home loss Sunday.

Braden has fared poorly against Texas this year, posting a 4.85 ERA in losing two home outings. He's 1-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three career starts in Arlington.

Josh Hamilton is 5 for 10 against Braden in his career, and the major leagues' batting leader went 3 for 3 in Friday's 7-3 victory. Hamilton, who also made a running catch on a ball hit by Mark Ellis in the ninth inning, is 22 for 52 against the Athletics this year.

"I can't say enough about what Hamilton did tonight, his skills were on display again," Washington said. "That ninth inning, what Hamilton did, it saved it there. Because if that ball falls, no telling what could happen and we may not have been able to get out of it."

Texas pushed baseball's largest division lead to 9 1/2 games over second-place Oakland. The Rangers have won five of six since losing five of six.

"I don't read too far into it, but we need to go deep into the postseason," starter Tommy Hunter said. "That's what baseball is all about, winning a World Series. That's what we're working for."

Oakland has lost eight its last 11 road games, and manager Bob Geren wasn't impressed with the Rangers' 15-hit attack Friday.

"They ended up with seven runs, but I think they had six infield hits and a bloop double," Geren said. "They got some breaks and took advantage of it."