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.

Against the A’s, Mark Buehrle will try to end his struggles and get the first-place. To the three-game set Friday night, Chicago White Sox off to a good start. From 2001-2007, against the A’s, Chicago (52-42) dropped 27 of 33 road games.

Buehrl with a 4.95 ERA in 10 career starts there has gone 0-6. 2-year-old Yankee Stadium and Target Field are the only other AL parks in which Buehrle has failed to win. In 20 overall starts against the A’s, he is 3-12 with a 4.11 ERA.

In the Twins series, Chicago bounced back against Seattle to take two of three and to improve to 3-4 on its trip, although in the series Chicago dropped three of four. On Wednesday, as the White Sox lost 2-1, Bobby Jenks allowed two runs in the 11th inning. In the ninth inning of a 7-6 loss to the Twins on Sunday, he gave up four runs. Jenks could be replaced by Matt Thornton, J.J. Putz and Sergio Santos.

Lately for the A’s, pitching has not been a problem. While winning seven of eight, the team has posted a 2.34 ERA. On Wednesday, Oakland defeated Boston 6-4. From a bruised right hand, Carlos Quentin is expected to return. On the White Sox, the outfielder is second, with 19 homers and 64 RBIs and he has not played since Sunday.

Oakland and Chicago have split their past 18 meetings.

Kansas City Royals are playing better than earlier this year. Zack Greinke’s return will only help the team.

Kansas City, under manager Trey Hillman is 27-26, after opening 12-23, since Ned Yost took over on May 14. Before getting swept in a three-game series last weekend, the Royals (39-49) had won 10 of 13 to AL Central-leading Chicago. In Sunday’s finale, Kansas City was outscored 28-8, including 15-5.

The Royals ranks first in the majors with a .282 batting average and is led by DeJesus, hitting at .326. The right-hander, Greinke (5-8, 3.71 ERA) was slated to start Sunday and he will be taking the hill on nine days rest. While striking out nine in seven innings of a 3-2 win in Seattle, he has not pitched since allowing an unearned run and two hits on July 6. Against Oakland, in seven career starts, Greinke also is 4-0 with a 2.98 ERA.

In recent weeks, Oakland (43-46) has struggled while their opponents, the Royals have improved. Since to drop well behind first-place Texas, the A’s have lost 22 of 37, although they were 28-24 and atop the AL West on May 31. Including a 5-2 win Sunday, from the Angels, they managed to take two of three.

Oakland’s struggles are due to injuries. Brett Anderson, Dallas Braden and Justin Duchscherer were down and out because of injuries, although Anderson and Braden are expected to return. For 70 games, Oakland was without outfielder Coco Crisp, second baseman Mark Ellis for a month and catcher Kurt Suzuki for three weeks.

In the opener, the A’s will go with the inconsistent Gio Gonzalez. Gonzalez (7-6, 3.79) allowed five runs, eight hits and five walks in four innings, last Wednesday, in a 6-2 loss to the New York Yankees. With a 3.58 ERA, the left-hander is 3-3 in his 10 starts since May 22.

Against NL opponents this season, the Oakland has not fared well. This series against the Pittsburgh Pirates could help them conclude interleague play on an encouraging note. By remaining perfect against the visiting Pirates on Friday night, the Athletics look to avoid a fourth consecutive defeat.

Against NL opponents, Oakland (34-40) has lost 10 of 12, after being swept at home by Cincinnati this week. In interleague play in 2010, the A’s are 5-10. against the Pirates (25-47), the A’s have an excellent chance to do so as the Pirates have lost 14 straight away from home including a 6-5 loss at Texas on Thursday.

To lose for the 15th time in 17 games overall, the Pirates blew a 4-0 lead Thursday. Oakland must improve at the plate after scoring 20 runs in its last eight games, seven of them losses and look to extend Pittsburgh’s misery.

With three RBIs in nine games, Jackson is 10 for 29. For the first time this Friday, Oakland will face Pittsburgh’s scheduled starter Brad Lincoln with 0-1, 6.50 ERA. On Sunday’s, 5-3 win over Cleveland, the rookie right-hander allowed three runs in six innings.

Oakland’s Ben Sheets (2-7, 4.95), hopes to avoid a fifth consecutive loss, while Lincoln seeks his first career victory. Sheets have a 2.92 ERA in 22 starts against Pittsburgh, though he is 8-8 all-time versus the Pirates.

Pittsburgh’s Garrett Jones is batting .423 in his last 14 games after going 3 for 4 on Thursday and he is yet to face Sheets.

During a sweep of its Bay Area rival last month, Oakland Athletics did not have to face San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum. Things won’t be so fortunate for them this time. Tim Lincecum, in the opener of their interleague set at AT&T Park, will look to continue his dominance of the A’s and help the Giants start avenging that disappointing series Friday night.

While winning all three games May 21-23, Oakland (32-30) outscored San Francisco 10-1. With Lincecum (5-2, 3.20 ERA) on the mound, the A’s, 42-35 in the Bay Area series, have swept four of the last 10 series, however, to do it in San Francisco for the second time in three years might not be easy. In four starts against Oakland, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 1.23 ERA.

“I’ve been kind of erratic with my mechanics and my timing and my motion, and this was a big step forward, I’ll take what I get “, said Lincecum, after giving up five walks in each of his previous four starts.

Reliever Jeremy Affeldt said, “They’re going to have to face a different team when it comes to confidence”.

After falling 7-6 at Cincinnati on Thursday to conclude a 4-3 road trip, San Francisco looks to avoid a third consecutive loss. The Giants stranded 13 runners and grounded into three double plays with the bases loaded, although Aubrey Huff and Aaron Rowand each homered.