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Rangers rookie LHP Harrison finding success against Athletics

Sep 24, 2008 - 10:09 AM Oakland (75-82) at Texas (76-82) 2:05 p.m. EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- Texas Rangers rookie Matt Harrison was awful in his last start. The same can not be said of his previous outing against the Oakland Athletics.

Harrison looks to get back on track when the Rangers host the Athletics on Wednesday.

The 23-year-old lefthander, Harrison (8-3, 5.86 ERA) had won three straight decisions before Friday, when he was pounded for seven runs and nine hits, including three home runs, in three innings. He walked two and struck out one -- the first time in eight starts he had walked more than he struck out - but did not factor in the decision as the Rangers rallied before dropping a 15-13 decision to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

"I didn't have my fastball at all, so I was trying to throw it even harder and I panicked when that didn't work and started to leave the ball out over the plate," Harrison said.

The young lefty has a big shot to bounce back against the A's - a team he has had success against. After yielding three runs - one earned - during a 9-4 victory on July 26 to earn his second win in the majors, Harrison registered his first career shutout vs. Oakland on September 12. He surrendered five hits and four walks while striking out five en route to the 7-0 victory.

Dana Eveland (9-8, 4.09), who is 2-0 with a 2.84 ERA in his last six starts, counters for the A's.