Rangers Fall To A's, Division Lead Shrinks to 8.5 Games

Sports Network | August 28, 2010

Arlington, TX (Sports Network) – Dallas Braden threw his second shutout of the season to lift the Oakland Athletics to a 5-0 win over the Texas Rangers in the second of a three-game set.

Braden (9-9) gave up just four hits and struck out one in throwing his fifth complete game of the season for the Athletics, who had dropped four of six coming in. Kurt Suzuki went 4-for-5 with two RBI, while Daric Barton scored four times and hit a two-run home run in the win.

Rich Harden (5-5) was tagged for four runs on eight hits with two walks and two strikeouts over 4 1/3 innings for the Rangers, who had won five of six prior to the loss. Jorge Cantu’s double was the lone extra-base hit for the Rangers.

Oakland took a 1-0 lead in the first as Kevin Kouzmanoff’s two-out single scored Barton. On the play, Suzuki was nailed trying to take third to end the inning.

In the third, the A’s made it a 3-0 game as Coco Crisp singled with one out and Barton followed with a blast over the right field wall.

Oakland tacked on another run in the fifth as Barton hit a one-out double and Suzuki followed with an RBI single for a 4-0 lead.

Meanwhile, Braden kept the Texas offense in check as Cantu, in the second inning, was the only Rangers baserunner to reach second base until the ninth.

Oakland made it a 5-0 game in the seventh when Barton worked a one-out walk and came home on a double from Suzuki.

Braden continued to dominate the Rangers in the seventh as he set them down in order for the fifth time and worked around a two-out single from Alex Cora in the eighth.

Elvis Andrus singled to start off the ninth, but Braden set down the next three batters to seal the win.

Braden went 3-2 over five starts in August and improved to 2-4 lifetime against Texas…Each team has won seven times in the season series…Harden fell to 1-2 against his former team…Attendance was 47,411 and the game time was 2:28.

Follow Harden's Start Against The A's Live

To follow tonight’s game between the Rangers and A’s live while conversing with fellow Rangers fans, head over to Lone Star Ball.

Rangers Officially Place Francisco On DL

Per T.R. Sullivan, the Rangers have placed reliever Frank Francisco on the disabled list and recalled Derek Holland to take his place on the active roster.

Holland has been mainly used as a starter this season, both with the Rangers and at Oklahoma City. But he will work out of the bullpen for now as a long reliever.

Francisco has been bothered by the strained muscle for the past 7-10 days and he left Friday’s game after facing just two batters. Francisco felt the muscle pull after a leadoff walk in the ninth and he was immediately removed from the game.

Rangers Still Awaiting Francisco's MRI

Per Anthony Andro, the Rangers have not disabled Frank Francisco yet and are still awaiting his MRI results before doing so. Derek Holland is with the team in the event that Francisco does land on the disabled list.

Frank Francisco To DL, Derek Holland Called Up

Per Evan Grant, the Rangers have placed reliever Frank Francisco on the disabled list and replaced him on the active roster with Derek Holland.

Francisco was set to undergo an MRI on his lat on Saturday after injuring it during the ninth inning of the Rangers win over the A’s on Friday. It’s possible that this injury could sideline Francisco the remainder of the season.

Rich Harden Tries To Stay On Track Against A's

(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers continue to dominate the AL West and are set for the second of three weekend games with second-place Oakland at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Dallas Braden, who has been rather inconsistent on the mound this season despite throwing a perfect game, will take the hill tonight and is 4-2 with a 2.81 ERA in seven appearances since the All-Star break.

Braden is 8-9 overall this season with a 3.49 ERA. He posted his third consecutive quality start on Sunday against the Rays, but still lost the game.

Braden is 1-4 lifetime versus Texas with a 4.15 ERA.

Texas will give the ball to Rich Harden tonight, and he hopes to build on the success he achieved Monday against the Twins.

In his return from the DL (right shoulder tendinitis), Harden tossed 6 2/3 innings of no-hit ball, but it is certainly understandable why manager Ron Washington removed to hard-throwing righty from the game. He had thrown 111 pitches by that point, struggling with his control at times. Still, he was able to push his record to 5-4 with a 5.00 ERA.

Harden has only logged 9 1/3 lifetime innings against the Athletics and is 1-1 with a 2.89 ERA.

Michael Young and David Murphy each knocked in two runs as Texas topped Oakland, 7-3, in the opener of this series yesterday.

Josh Hamilton added three hits and an RBI, while Elvis Andrus and Vladimir Guerrero knocked in a run each for the AL West-leading Rangers, who have won five of their last six and sit 9 1/2 games ahead of the A's in the division.

"If we hit, pitch and play defense consistently, we'll be in good shape," Hamilton said.

Tommy Hunter (11-2) worked 7 2/3 innings, yielding seven hits and three runs to win for the third time in four decisions.

The Rangers upped their streak to 72 straight games scoring at least one run at home.

Kevin Kouzmanoff launched a two-run shot for the Athletics, who have lost two in a row.

Brett Anderson (3-5) departed after two innings with a hyperextended right knee, but not before taking the loss by allowing six hits and four runs with a pair of walks.

"It's unfortunate. I was throwing well up to this point, but stuff happens that you can't control," Anderson said.

Texas has won seven of the 13 meetings between these rivals so far in 2010, with the Rangers taking five of the seven matchups held in Arlington.