Rangers 3 - 2 Athletics
Final
  for this game

Wilson, Rangers take on Athletics

Sep 21, 2011 - 3:29 PM

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(Sports Network) - C.J. Wilson goes after his 17th win and tries to get the Texas Rangers one step closer to their second straight American League West title this evening when they continue a three-game set with the Oakland Athletics at the Coliseum.

Wilson had a three-start winning streak stopped on Friday in Seattle, as the Mariners reached him for four runs (one earned) and six hits in 6 1/3 innings. He fell to 16-7 on the year to go along with a 2.97 earned run average.

"Where do you want to start? ... It was like the Titanic. It just got to the point where there was nothing you could do," said Wilson.

Wilson tossed eight scoreless innings to beat the A's two starts ago and is 5-5 in 36 appearances (seven starts) against them with a 3.79 ERA.

Texas moved closer to a playoff berth on Tuesday, as Adrian Beltre hit a three-run home run to help the Rangers take a 7-2 win. Michael Young went 3- for-5 with two RBI and two runs scored while Josh Hamilton scored twice for the Rangers, who have won seven of their last eight to move their magic number to clinching the division to four.

"It's easier for a hitter to just be themselves in this lineup," said Beltre. "From top to bottom it's one of the best in baseball."

Texas maintained its five-game edge on the LA Angels of Anaheim, who won in Toronto.

Derek Holland (15-5) pitched seven innings and gave up one run on two hits with three walks and seven strikeouts to win his fourth straight decision.

Coco Crisp and Michael Taylor each hit solo homers for the Athletics, who have lost three of four. Rich Harden (4-4) dropped his second consecutive start as he was tagged for six runs -- five earned -- on seven hits in just three innings of work.

"He didn't have his best stuff tonight," said Oakland manager Bob Melvin about Harden. "When he missed they hit it and they were able to put some runs on the board quick."

Oakland will hand the ball tonight to righty Brandon McCarthy, who is 9-8 with a 3.35 ERA. McCarthy was terrific in beating the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, holding them to a run and five hits in seven innings.

"McCarthy pitched really well," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "I saw him as a young kid with the White Sox. He's learned the art of pitching. He pitched. He threw some balls out of the strike zone with late life. He used both sides of the plate. He pitched very, very well."

He is just 1-4 lifetime against the Rangers with a 4.58 ERA in eight games (six starts).

Texas is 12-5 versus the A's this season.






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