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Hamilton, Rangers aim to conclude series with sweep of A's

Jul 10, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers take aim at a seventh consecutive win and a four-game sweep of the Oakland Athletics this afternoon in Arlington.

Texas owns a one-game lead atop the AL West standings, while Oakland sits in last place in baseball's only four-team division, 11 games off the pace.

Oakland ace Trevor Cahill will be on the mound this afternoon and will attempt to better his 8-6 record and 3.17 ERA. On Tuesday, Cahill didn't figure in the decision against Seattle despite allowing only one earned run on five hits in seven innings of work. He has struggled a bit with his command at times this season but is still one of the top hurlers in the game.

Cahill has completely dominated Texas in two starts this season, winning both while allowing only one earned run in 14 innings. He is 8-2 lifetime versus the Rangers with a 2.18 ERA.

Speaking of Texas, it will send Matt Harrison to the mound to duel with Cahill. The lefty is 6-7 this season, but he owns an impressive 3.28 ERA and has thrown the ball quite well for the most part. Although he did yield 11 hits in six innings against Baltimore on Tuesday, Harrison only gave up two runs, proving more than capable of pitching out of trouble.

The Rangers' hurler was crushed by Oakland earlier this season, lasting only 1 2/3 innings after giving up four earned runs. Still, he is 3-1 lifetime versus the A's with a 4.81 ERA.

Yesterday, Josh Hamilton blasted a game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning to push the red-hot Rangers over the Athletics, 7-6, for their season high-tying sixth win in a row.

Hamilton finished with four hits and three RBI while Adrian Beltre also had a home run for the Rangers, who also opened the season with six straight wins.

The home run made Darren Oliver (2-5) a winner after he allowed just one hit in 1 2/3 innings.

Coco Crisp ripped a solo home run in the seventh to put the A's ahead, 6-5, but Andrew Bailey (0-2) surrendered Hamilton's homer for Oakland's fifth loss in six games.

"Obviously he's one of the best players in the game," Bailey said of Hamilton. "You just can't put yourself in that position. Obviously he was looking for a fastball and he made it count."

Armed with a one-run lead, Bailey entered in the ninth for the A's and got two quick outs. But Elvis Andrus hit an infield single, reaching after second baseman Jemile Weeks fielded the ball but threw too low and late to first.

Hamilton then drilled a four-seam fastball into the right-field upper deck and was greeted by his teammates at home plate for a much-needed celebration.

It came just two days after the tragic death of Rangers fan Shannon Stone.

Stone fell from the left-field stands during Thursday's game and later died from his injuries. The local firefighter was at the game with his son and tumbled over the railing while reaching for a foul ball thrown his way by Hamilton in the second inning.

"It was one extreme to another," Hamilton said. "I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to hit a [walk-off homer]."

The Rangers have won five of their nine meetings with the A's this season.