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Oakland pitchers aim to contain prolific Texas offense

Jul 25, 2008 - 10:34 AM Texas (52-50) at Oakland (52-49) 10:05 pm. EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics boast the best pitching staff in the majors. The Texas Rangers are the highest scoring team in baseball. Something has to give when the A's host the Rangers on Friday.

Led by All-Star Josh Hamilton, the Rangers have been tearing the cover off the baseball to the tune of 5.46 runs per game. Hamilton, who put on a show during the Home Run Derby, leads the majors with 98 RBI. Meanwhile, teammate Ian Kinsler is tops in the American League with a .325 average, and recently had a 25-game hitting streak snapped.

The Rangers will be challenged to muster their usual offense against Oakland, which leads baseball with a 3.42 ERA.

The A's send Sean Gallagher (1-0, 3.00 ERA) to the hill. Gallagher, who was acquired from the Chicago Cubs in the Rich Harden deal, is making his third start. The 22-year-old righthander allowed two runs and seven hits in five innings of a 4-3, 12-inning loss to the New York Yankees on Saturday.

Texas counters with its most consistent starter, Vicente Padilla (11-5, 4.41). The righthander threw seven innings in a 1-0 victory over Minnesota on Sunday after being activated from the 15-day disabled list. The righthander had been bothered by a strained neck muscle.