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Rangers try to find win column in Oakland

Apr 30, 2011 - 2:48 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers try to avoid losing three straight games for the first time all season this afternoon when they continue their four- game set against the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum.

After dropping the finale of their series with Toronto on Thursday, the Rangers found themselves on the wrong end in the opener of this set on Friday, as Trevor Cahill threw seven shutout innings to remain undefeated, and Oakland held on for a 3-1 victory.

Cahill (4-0) gave up seven hits and four walks, striking out four, as the A's won their second straight game and emerged victorious for the fourth time in their last six tries.

"I didn't make too many adjustments. I think I made some quality pitches they just weren't swinging at," said Cahill.

Grant Balfour stranded two runners in the eighth and Brian Fuentes shook off Michael Young's RBI single in the ninth to earn his seventh save.

C.J. Wilson (3-1) took the loss after allowing three runs -- one earned -- in seven good innings. He gave up eight hits and three walks, striking out three.

The Rangers are just 6-10 since opening the season 9-1.

Hoping to reverse their fortunes today, the Rangers will hand the ball to righty Colby Lewis, who has lost his last three starts and has looked bad in doing so. Lewis' latest setback came on Monday against Toronto, which battered him for six runs - all in the fifth inning - and seven hits in five innings, dropping him to 0-3, while ballooning his ERA to 6.95.

"I felt great, I just had one bad inning," Lewis said of his start against Toronto. "I just need to be more consistent. I felt like I threw the ball well the last time, but just left a couple pitches up."

Over his last three starts, though, Lewis has allowed 15 runs (14 earned) in 16 innings. He has also allowed eight home runs in four starts this season.

Lewis is 3-3 lifetime against the A's with a 3.36 ERA in 12 games, 10 of which have been starts.

Oakland, meanwhile, will counter with talented left-hander Brett Anderson, who is 2-1 with a 1.56 ERA. Anderson won his second straight start on Sunday in Seattle, as he held the Mariners to one earned run in seven innings. He has given up just six earned runs in 34 2/3 innings this season.

Anderson has faced the Rangers five times and is 1-2 against them with a 5.18 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.