Athletics 6 - 3 Rangers
Final
  for this game

Gray tries to pitch A's to sweep of Rangers

Jun 25, 2015 - 10:55 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Sonny Gray tries to pitch the Oakland Athletics to a fifth straight win on Thursday when they go for a sweep in the finale of their three-game series with the Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark.

Gray was cruising against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim on Friday, but ran into trouble in the seventh inning as the Halos erupted for eight runs in the seventh inning.

Still, Gray did not get a decision, despite being charged with six runs (5 earned) and five hits in six innings of his team's 12-7 loss.

"I put the bullpen in such a bad spot," said Gray, who is 8-3 with a 1.95 ERA. "You can't put anything on them. You come in with the bases loaded and nobody out, those runners are important and they have pressure pitches going on. I put them in a bad spot. I put the team in a bad spot. This is one of the tough ones."

Gray is 6-3 in nine starts versus the Rangers with a 1.68 ERA.

Texas will counter with righty Colby Lewis, who is 7-3 with a 4.08 ERA. Lewis won his third straight decision and second consecutive start on Friday in Chicago, as he held the White Sox to a run and nine hits in eight innings. He also struck out seven without walking a batter.

"He was coming off the extra rest really fresh," Lewis said. "The ball was coming out of his hand very well and he was pretty much in total control of what he wanted to do."

Lewis has faced the A's 22 times and is 9-4 with a 3.01.

Oakland won again on Wednesday, as Brett Lawrie hit a grand slam to lead the Athletics to an 8-2 victory. Josh Phegley hit a two-run home run and Stephen Vogt added a two-run shot for the Athletics, who have won eight of 10.

Kendall Graveman (4-4) gave up two runs on eight hits over seven-plus innings to pick up the win.

Carlos Corporan drove in both runs for the Rangers, who have lost four straight and five of six. Wandy Rodriguez (4-3) was tagged for all eight runs on 11 hits in just four innings of work.

"I felt pretty good today and I had good speed on my ball," said Rodriguez. "I don't know, it just didn't work out."

The A's are 7-4 against the Rangers this season.






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