Athletics at Rangers
The streaking Oakland Athletics have had no trouble overcoming deficits lately, regardless of the size or time in the game. Oakland, which has posted back-to-back comeback victories, looks to complete a four-game sweep when it visits the Texas Rangers for the finale of their series on Thursday.
One day after scoring 11 unanswered runs over their last four innings to post a 13-10 triumph, the Athletics crossed the plate five times over the last three frames on Wednesday to extend their winning streak to five games with a 6-5 victory. Khris Davis accounted for all of Oakland's late scoring as he belted a three-run homer in the seventh and a two-run shot with two outs in the ninth, giving him six blasts - and 13 RBIs - during his four-game hitting streak. Robinson Chirinos launched a three-run homer for Texas, which has lost five of six since the All-Star break and 10 of 12 overall. Chirinos has hit safely in seven of his last eight contests while Adrian Beltre, who shares the major-league lead with seven sacrifice flies, has recorded five RBIs in as many games.
TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, NBCS California (Oakland), FS Southwest (Texas)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Trevor Cahill (1-2, 2.95 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Bartolo Colon (5-8, 4.85)
Cahill settled for a no-decision against San Francisco on Saturday after giving up just one run and two hits over 5 2/3 innings in his second start since returning from an absence of more than a month due to an Achilles injury. The 30-year-old Californian has allowed a total of five hits over 9 1/3 frames in the two outings after surrendering seven in 4 2/3 innings in his final turn before landing on the disabled list. Cahill is 10-4 with a 2.81 ERA in 18 career starts against the Rangers, including a no-decision at Texas on April 23, with the 10 victories respresenting his most versus any team.
Colon fell to 0-3 with a 5.30 ERA in three starts this month after surrendering five runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings in a loss to Cleveland on Saturday. The 45-year-old Dominican remains in search of his 246th career victory, which would move him past Dennis Martinez (Nicaragua) for the all-time lead among pitchers from Latin America. Colon owns a 10-6 record with one shutout and a 3.34 ERA in 22 starts and one relief appearance against Oakland, including a 1-0 mark and 2.45 ERA in two turns this season.
WALK-OFFS
1. Davis, who leads the Athletics with 27 homers and 77 RBIs, has gone deep in six consecutive games against the Rangers.
2. Texas has allowed at least six runs in each of its last six losses, surrendering a total of 65 in those contests.
3. Oakland, which leads the majors with 95 homers on the road, has erased deficits in 17 of their last 26 victories.