Athletics at Rangers
The Oakland Athletics continue their seven-game road trip Wednesday when they begin a two-game series against the AL West-leading Texas Rangers. Oakland began its trek by handing Los Angeles its league-high eighth shutout loss on Monday. But the Angels returned the favor Tuesday, blanking the Athletics behind a strong performance by starter Ervin Santana.
Oakland has won eight of 13 overall and five of seven on the road. It looks to improve on those numbers against a Texas team that has dropped four of its last six, including both contests of a two-game home series vs. Kansas City. After belting nine home runs over a six-game span, Rangers slugger Josh Hamilton has gone three straight contests without a blast. He did extend his hitting streak to 15 games in Tuesday's loss while raising his league-leading RBI total to 45 with a sacrifice fly.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, CSN California (Oakland), FSN Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics LH Tommy Milone (5-2, 3.92 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Yu Darvish (5-1, 2.84 ERA)
Milone has won each of his last two starts, including a triumph over Detroit on Friday in which he allowed two runs - one earned - and five hits over seven innings with a career-high six strikeouts. The 25-year-old will be making his fifth start on the road, where he is 2-2 with a 7.84 ERA. Milone is facing the Rangers for the first time in his career.
Darvish rebounded from his first loss in the major leagues with a victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, when he returned to the mound after a nearly two-hour rain delay and finished with three runs allowed in 5 1/3 innings. The Japanese sensation is a perfect 3-0 with a 3.72 ERA in three home starts. Darvish will be pitching against Oakland for the first time.
WALK-OFFS:
1. The Athletics claimed LH Travis Blackley off waivers from the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. Blackley allowed five earned runs over five innings in four relief appearances with the Giants this year, his first in the major leagues since 2007.
2. Texas RF Nelson Cruz received Tuesday night off after starting each of the Rangers' first 36 games.
3. Oakland OF Yoenis Cespedes, who is on the 15-day disabled list with a strained hand, is participating in baseball-related activities but is not yet allowed to swing a bat.