Athletics 3 - 4 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Harrison eyes 11th victory against Athletics

Jun 29, 2012 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - Texas' Matt Harrison tries to become the American League's first 11-game winner this evening when the Rangers resume a four-game set with the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Harrison won his sixth straight decision on Sunday against Colorado, scattering five hits over five scoreless innings to run his record to 10-3 to go along with a 3.24 ERA.

He left the game with a sore hip that was brought on by tightness in his back.

"They decided to be cautious with it and shut it down to make sure I'm ready for the next start and I don't blow out anything," said Harrison, who is 6-0 with a 1.29 ERA in his last seven starts.

Harrison has faced the Athletics 10 times (7 starts) and is 4-1 against them with a 4.22 ERA.

Texas drew first blood in the opener of this set on Thursday, as Ian Kinsler had a season-high four hits and the Rangers hung on for a 7-6 victory.

Kinsler also scored three times thanks to a lineup that had five players with multi-hit games, including Josh Hamilton, Michael Young, Nelson Cruz and David Murphy for Texas, which has won 14 out of their last 17 games.

Scott Feldman (2-6) grabbed the win despite giving up four runs in five-plus innings. Joe Nathan then earned his 18th save after getting out of a first- and-third, one-out jam in the ninth.

Oakland lost even though it received home runs from Josh Reddick, Derek Norris and Cliff Pennington. It's the first time since May 23, 2009 the A's have lost a game when homering at least three times.

"We're obviously facing a better lineup," Reddick said. "I remember looking up there today, thinking, 'Only three of these guys are hitting below .270.' We know as much as the league knows these guys can hit the baseball. They're up there with the best of everyone."

Yoenis Cespedes went 3-for-4 in the loss and is now hitting .625 (10-for-16) against the Rangers this season.

Tyson Ross (2-8) lost his fifth straight decision after yielding five runs, eight hits and a walk in four-plus innings. He hasn't recorded a win since May 14.

Getting the call for the A's tonight will be righty A.J. Griffin, who will be making his second big league start. Griffin didn't get a decision in his debut on Sunday against San Francisco, as he allowed two runs and three hits in six innings of a 4-2 win.

Texas is 9-2 in its last 11 home games versus the A's.






Related News