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Athletics open final road trip against Rangers

Sep 22, 2008 - 2:24 PM Oakland (74-81) at Texas (75-81) 8:05 p.m. EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Fresh off a successful homestand, the Oakland Athletics hit the road for the final time this season when they take on the Texas Rangers in the series opener Monday.

Oakland, which has won six of seven and completed a 7-3 homestand with a three-game sweep of the Seattle Mariners, sends rookie Greg Smith to the mound.

The Athletics capped the homestand with a dramatic 5-3 win Sunday, courtesy of an eight-inning, two-run home run by Jack Cust, his 30th of the season.

Smith (7-15, 4.09) has endured an up-and-down rookie season. The lefthander has allowed two runs or less in 17 of his 30 starts, but he will to avoid joining Justin Verlander and Brian Bannister as the only pitchers to lose at least 16 games in the American League.

Smith, 24, was roughed up for six runs in 5 2/3 innings in a 7-0 loss to Texas on September 12.

Oakland is just 6-10 against their division rivals and has dropped two out of three in both trips to Arlington this season.

Kevin Millwood (9-9, 5.15) takes the ball for the Rangers, looking to snap a string of three consecutive unimpressive outings. The veteran has allowed 15 runs in his last 18 innings, going 0-2 in his last three starts.

The Rangers have lost four in a row, including a series sweep at the hands of the AL West champion Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.