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Wilson, Cahill square off in opener at Coliseum

Apr 29, 2011 - 2:28 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers and Oakland Athletics kick off a four- game set tonight at Oakland Coliseum as these AL West rivals send a pair of undefeated starters to the mound in the series opener.

The Rangers wrapped up a four-game series at home Thursday afternoon with a 5-2 loss to Toronto. Texas reliever Darren Oliver (1-2) was tagged for three runs -- one earned -- in the ninth inning and was charged with the loss.

Lefty C.J. Wilson will put his unblemished 3-0 record on the line this evening coming off back-to-back wins. Most recently Wilson went seven frames against the Royals on Sunday, recording 10 strikeouts and allowing four runs on eight hits. Texas held on for the 8-7 win after reliever Brett Tomko surrendered a three-run homer to Mike Aviles in the ninth.

The 30-year-old Wilson had mastered the Angels six days earlier, again going seven strong in allowing just a single run on nine hits with nine strikeouts against one walk in the 7-1 final.

Wilson's only two career starts versus the A's came in 2010 when he compiled a 2.84 earned-run average and 1-0 mark. He managed the win July 29 in Arlington despite lasting just 5 2/3 frames having given up three runs on seven hits in a 7-4 final. He came away without a decision in another home outing in early May, falling on the wrong end of a 2-1 setback in which he delivered seven innings of four-hit, one-run ball. The former reliever has appeared in 31 total games against Oakland with a 4.39 ERA the result.

Oakland, meanwhile, salvaged the finale of a three-game set with the Angels Wednesday as Cliff Pennington scored on Conor Jackson's high chopper in the 10th inning, lifting the Athletics to a 2-1 triumph. Brad Ziegler retired the side in order in the bottom of the 10th to get his first save of the year while Brian Fuentes (1-2), who blew a 1-0 lead in the ninth, got the win.

Oakland starter Tyson Ross, making his second start of the season, allowed four hits, walked one and had three strikeouts over seven innings.

"Tyson was pounding the zone and went after hitters," A's manager Bob Geren said. "That was the game plan and he did a terrific job. Both starters threw the ball well."

Daric Barton's sacrifice fly in the third inning was the lone run allowed by LA starter Dan Haren in his seven-inning outing.

Trevor Cahill gets the starting nod for Oakland tonight. Cahill also enters this matchup fresh off consecutive winning turns. On Saturday in Seattle, the 23-year-old right-hander tossed six innings and held the M's to one run and seven hits in a 9-1 victory. His previous start April 17 versus Detroit was more impressive, turning in eight frames of four-hit, one-run ball while fanning nine without issuing a walk in a 5-1 decision. In fact, each of Cahill's wins have come in similar fashion. He pitched eight frames to beat Toronto April 7, allowing one run and three hits, but followed with a less flattering 4 2/3-inning stint where he let in four runs against the White Sox.

Cahill squared off with Texas five different times last season, coming away with an impressive 3-1 ledger and 2.63 ERA. Over nine career starts versus Friday's opponent, Cahill is 6-2 with a 2.56 ERA.

Texas held a 10-9 edge in the 2010 season series with Oakland while the A's won 11 of 19 matchups a year prior.