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Rangers eye another victory over Athletics

Jul 9, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - The surging Texas Rangers hope to capture a sixth consecutive victory this evening when they continue a four-game series with the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

In Friday's second contest of this series, Mike Napoli blasted a grand slam in a five-run first inning as the Rangers took down the Athletics, 8-5, in the battle of two left-handed All-Star pitchers.

The game started on a somber note roughly 24 hours after a fan, Shannon Stone, fell to his death while reaching for a foul ball thrown his way by Rangers left fielder Josh Hamilton in the second inning of Thursday's contest.

It was an event Rangers president Nolan Ryan called "a very tragic incident" and one that "hits us at the root of who we are."

Ian Kinsler and Adrian Beltre also went deep for the Rangers, who won their fifth straight.

Beltre will now be the starting third baseman in the All-Star game after it was announced that the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez will not participate.

C.J. Wilson (9-3) allowed four runs on five hits and three walks while fanning eight through seven innings to win his fifth consecutive decision. He hasn't lost since May 20 at Philadelphia.

Gio Gonzalez (8-6) lasted just four innings, allowing seven runs -- three earned -- on seven hits and three walks as the A's lost for the seventh time in 10 games.

"[Gonzalez] kept fighting and kept battling," A's manager Bob Melvin said. "It was a bad outing for him, but we're glad he gave us four."

Texas placed infielder Andres Blanco on the 15-day disabled list, purchased the contract of infielder Omar Quintanilla from Round Rock, transferred pitcher Scott Feldman to the 60-day disabled list and released pitcher Dave Bush Friday.

It is surprising that Oakland's Brandon McCarthy owns a 1-5 record this season when considering his solid 3.33 ERA. The righty will be on the mound today and hopes for some much-needed run support. On Monday, McCarthy surrendered two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings against Seattle but was still tagged with a loss.

McCarthy didn't figure in the decision of his only previous start against Texas this season despite the fact that he allowed zero earned runs in six innings of action. He is 1-2 lifetime versus the Rangers, who he pitched with from 2007-09, with a 2.86 ERA.

Colby Lewis will take the mound for Texas this evening in hopes of earning his ninth victory of the season. He is currently 8-7 with a 4.29 ERA and has been rather mediocre overall. Lewis is coming off a victory, as he allowed three earned run on five hits in seven innings of work against Baltimore last time out.

Lewis is 2-0 versus Oakland this season with a dynamite 1.76 ERA, so he figures to pitch with a wealth of confidence this evening.

Oakland is in last place in the AL West, 10 games off the pace of first-place Texas.

The A's and Rangers have split their eight meetings so far this season.