Oakland Athletics vs. Texas Rangers (8:05 pm ET, CSNCA)
Oakland Athletics and Texas Rangers lock horns in Game 3 (8:05 pm ET, CSNCA), on Thursday, at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas. The series is tied with 1-1 and both the teams will try to win the series. The Athletics have a 51-49 home, 21-27 away record whereas the Rangers have a 59-42 away, 35-21 home record.
On Nelson Cruz’s two-run homer in the 10th inning, Texas (59-42) won Tuesday’s opener before Oakland (51-49) won Wednesday behind All-Star Trevor Cahill’s eight scoreless innings. Since the All-Star break, these teams have the lowest ERAs, with the Rangers at 2.55 and Oakland at 2.69.
For the first time since June 4, in the AL West, the Athletics have moved into sole possession of second place, 7 1/2 games behind the Rangers. Wilson is second in the AL with a .203 mark has a 9-5, 3.03 ERA. In his last 10 starts, he is 6-2 with a 2.57 ERA. This allowed to earn a 1-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Friday, with four hits in eight innings.
Vin Mazzaro (6-2, 3.45), in his last five starts is 4-0 with a 2.12 ERA. Giving up two runs over six innings in a 10-2 home victory, he beat the Chicago White Sox on Saturday. In his season debut May 4; his lone career starts against Texas. In a 7-6 home victory, he yielded four runs over three-plus innings.
In all of the split eight meetings between Texas and Oakland, Josh Hamilton has hit safely, going 13 for 34 with six RBIs. Against the A’s, second baseman Ian Kinsler is 7 for 29. In his last five games, without an extra-base hit and five strikeouts, Kinsler is 4 for 20.
Manager Ron Washington said, there was not anything that he might have done that made me do it. I just felt like it was time. When I get that feeling, I just go with it.”
During a career-best 16-game hitting streak, Cruz is hitting .403 with three homers and 16 RBIs. On Wednesday for Oakland, Kurt Suzuki homered and drove in two runs. With eight RBIs over his last four games, he is 8 for 16.
The A’s are trying to capture their season-high fifth straight series.
