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Rangers try to stay on track in opener vs. A's

Jul 7, 2011 - 2:58 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers take aim at a fourth straight win this evening when they open a four-game series with the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The Rangers completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, as Michael Young had his third consecutive three-hit game and knocked in a trio of runs in Texas' 13-5 rout.

Elvis Andrus had four hits and scored three times, and Mike Napoli added a three-run homer for the AL West leaders, who outscored the Orioles, 30-11.

Young scored two runs tonight, giving him 958 for his career, tying him with Rafael Palmeiro for the most in Rangers history.

"He certainly swung the bat, he did whatever we needed him to do when we needed him to do it," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I don't think it's anything you in Texas haven't seen Michael do before."

Alexi Ogando (9-3) fanned five batters over seven innings. The right-hander, who allowed four hits and three runs, moved to 7-1 at home this year.

Getting the call for the Rangers tonight will be left-hander Derek Holland, who has lost three of his last four starts and is coming off a horrific outing his last time out. Holland lasted just two-thirds of an inning on Saturday against Florida and allowed five runs, as he fell to 6-4 and saw his ERA rise to 5.10.

"Obviously, I was very frustrated," said Holland. "You can't control those kind of things. If I'm not throwing strikes, [Rangers manager Ron Washington] made the obvious move, get someone in there who can."

Holland has faced the A's seven times (four starts) and is 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA.

Oakland, meanwhile, will counter with righty Rich Harden, who spent one injury-plagued campaign with the Rangers last season, going 5-5 in 20 outings (18 starts).

Harden's season this year was delayed by injury, but the once-promising right- hander returned on Friday and defeated Arizona, holding them to two runs and four hits in six innings. He also struck out six without walking a batter.

"Good to get back out there," Harden said. "I've been looking forward to this for a while. It's frustrating. Just when I thought I was close to getting back out there, I was set back. I was happy to get out there."

Harden is 5-2 lifetime versus the Rangers with a 4.21 ERA in 12 games, 11 starts.

The A's snapped a two-game losing streak on Wednesday, as they avoided a sweep by blanking the Seattle Mariners, 2-0. Guillermo Moscoso gave up just two hits in seven scoreless innings, while Scott Sizemore knocked in both runs.

"A terrific performance," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin.

The A's have won four of six from the Rangers this season.