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Duchscherer aims to slow Hamilton, Rangers

Jul 26, 2008 - 11:21 AM Texas (53-50) at Oakland (52-50) 4:05 pm. EDT

OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- If anyone can slow slugger Josh Hamilton and the Texas Rangers, it's Oakland Athletics All-Star ace Justin Duchscherer. Baseball's ERA leader takes the hill on Saturday as the A's look to bounce back from a disheartening loss.

Hamilton belted a two-run homer in a five-run fourth and rookie Chris Davis sparked a eight-run ninth as the majors' most prolific offense pounded the A's, 14-6, on Friday. Five players had at least two RBI for the Rangers, who showed why they lead baseball with 557 runs.

Hamilton leads baseball with 100 RBI and Davis has nine home runs in his first 23 games.

While the Rangers specialize in scoring runs, the A's are known for their pitching. Despite Friday's whitewashing, Oakland still leads baseball with a 3.48 staff ERA. Duchscherer (10-6, 1.87 ERA) is a big reason for their success. The righthander has thrown at least seven innings in seven of his last eight starts and has not allowed more than two earned runs since May 18.

The former reliever allowed two runs and six hits in seven innings of a 2-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday.

Texas counters with rookie Matt Harrison (1-1, 9.20), who is making his fourth career start. The 22-year-old lefthander was rocked for eight runs and nine hits in five innings of a 14-2 loss to Minnesota last Saturday.