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Gabbard and Rangers aim for fourth straight win

Sep 8, 2007 - 2:27 PM Oakland (69-73) at Texas (66-74) 8:05 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) - Kason Gabbard and the Texas Rangers look to keep rolling as they continue a three-game series with the Oakland Athletics on Saturday.

The Rangers beat Oakland ace Dan Haren, 5-3, in Friday's opener as Frank Catalanotto drove in three runs and fell a double shy of the cycle.

Gabbard (6-1, 4.07 ERA) has lost just one time in seven starts since being acquired from the Boston Red Sox at the trade deadline. On Sunday, the lefthander was not sharp, as he allowed five runs and five hits in six innings. However, he did not factor into the decision in an 8-7 win over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

Texas, which has won three straight and 10 of its last 12 games, faces a struggling pitcher in Chad Gaudin.

Gaudin (10-10, 4.25) is 2-7 with a 6.58 ERA in 11 starts since the All-Star break. The righthander has allowed five or more runs in seven of those starts. Gaudin was rocked for seven runs and eight hits in five innings of a 9-5 loss to the Angels on Monday.

Oakland has lost nine of 13 and dropped six of its last seven games on the road, being outscored, 55-26, in that span.