Rangers, Athletics continue set

Sep 14, 2007, 15:12 GMT

- The Oakland Athletics try to better their chances of staying out the cellar in the AL West this evening when they continue a four- game series with the Texas Rangers at McAfee Coliseum.

Oakland moved two games in front of the last-place Rangers in the opener of this set on Thursday, as Nick Swisher finished 2-for-4 with a homer, two RBI, and two runs scored in a 6-5 Athletics win. Jack Cust had a two-run double for Oakland, which has won three of four.

Chad Gaudin (11-11) improved to .500 on the season by holding Texas to three runs on eight hits in six-plus innings with eight strikeouts and two walks.

Kevin Millwood (9-12) gave up six runs on eight hits, fanning four and walking three.

Jason Botts homered, and Michael Young finished 3-for-5 with two RBI for the Rangers, who have dropped three in a row following a six-game win streak.

The A's will send to the hill left-hander Dan Meyer, who will be making his second start of the season. Meyer, part of the trade that sent Tim Hudson to Atlanta in 2004, hasn't started since August 17 when he gave up six runs (three earned) in four innings in a loss to Kansas City. He threw 3 1/3 innings of relief against Texas on Saturday and allowed a run and two hits in his team's 7-3 loss.

Texas will send lefty Kason Gabbard to the hill this evening. Gabbard, who is 6-1 with a 4.07 ERA on the season, hasn't received a decision in his last two starts. He last pitched back on September 2 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and surrendered five runs and five hits in six innings.

Gabbard, who missed his last start because of a blister on his left thumb, defeated the A's the last time he faced them and is 1-1 lifetime against them with a 7.71 ERA in two starts.

The Rangers are 9-7 this season against the A's. The teams, though, have split the six matchups in the Bay Area.

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