Rangers Lose To Oakland In Extras From Bullpen Letdown

Mitch Moreland's two home runs were not enough for a victory as the Rangers bullpen falters.

Rangers Vs. Athletics: Oakland Takes Game Two From Texas In Extra Innings

The Oakland A's swept the two game series with the Texas Rangers this afternoon even though it took two extra innings to do so as they came away with the victory by a final score of 5-4.

The A's jumped out early with three runs in the first inning, but Texas would cut the lead to one with two runs in the bottom of the fourth inning and then took the lead in the bottom of the sixth inning with another two runs. But Oakland tied the game up with a run in the top of the seventh inning and won the game on a Kila Ka'aihue single that brought in Jonny Gomes.

The Rangers now move on to Houston to face the Astros in a three game road series that starts Friday night.

For more on the Texas Rangers, check out Lone Star Ball. Oakland Athletics news and information can be found at Athletics Nation, and all your MLB news and info is available atBaseball Nation.

Rangers Vs Athletics: Rangers Lead 4-3 Through Six

After a solid victory Wednesday night against the Oakland Athletics, the Texas Rangers looked to complete the two-game sweep Thursday afternoon in Arlington.

The A's jumped out to an early lead in the top of the first. Matt Harrison, looking to bounce back from a string of poor performances, couldn't find his command and surrendered three earned runs on four hits and a walk. Luckily, Harrison was able to pick off Jemile Weeks, who reached on a leadoff walk. Otherwise, Weeks would have likely scored as well.

Harrison would settle down and finish with a line of 5 1/3 innings, giving up three earned runs on eight hits, striking out three and walking three.

In the fourth inning, Mitch Moreland hit a two-run homer to cut the A's lead to 3-2, and then hit another solo shot in the sixth to tie the game. Craig Gentry would score later than inning on an Elvis Andrus RBI bunt single to take the lead 4-3.

For more on the Rangers, be sure to check out Lone Star Ball and join the discussion.

Rangers Vs Athletics: Hamilton Gets Day Off

Josh Hamilton will be sitting out of this afternoon's game against the Oakland Athletics. Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington said before the game that he would not hesitate to use Hamilton later in the game if his bat was needed.

Over the past several games, and in the midst of a 21-game run with no off days, Washington has given a day off to virtually every starter in the lineup. Scott Feldman was even used in a spot start to give the starting rotation a day off.

Ian Kinsler has also returned to the lineup after being a late scratch Wednesday night due a stomach virus.

This afternoon's lineup will look like this:

1. Ian Kinsler (R) 2B

2. Elvis Andrus (R) SS

3. Michael Young (R) DH

4. Adrian Beltre (R) 3B

5. David Murphy (L) LF

6. Nelson Cruz (R) RF

7. Mike Napoli (R) C

8. Mitch Moreland (L) 1B

9. Craig Gentry (R) CF

SP: Matt Harrison

For more on the Rangers, be sure to check out Lone Star Ball and join the discussion.

Rangers Vs. Athletics: Game 2 Preview, TV Info And More

Former Texas Rangers pitcher Brandon McCarthy will return to Arlington as a member of the A's on Thursday afternoon after leaving the club following the 2010 season. He'll face Matt Harrison, 4-3 with a 5.23 ERA in seven starts this season. Harrison has struggled recently, going 1-3 with an 8.66 ERA in his past four starts after winning his first three starts. His most recent outing was a struggle, as he allowed four runs in six-plus innings in a 4-2 loss to the Angels on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Josh Hamilton didn't homer Wednesday, but two hits kept his batting average above .400, at .404.

Date / Time: Thursday, May 17, 1:05 p.m. CT

Location: Rangers Ballpark At Arlington

TV: Fox Sports SW

Radio: 103.3 FM ESPN

Probable Starters: Matt Harrison (4-3) vs. Brandon McCarthy (3-3)

For more on the Texas Rangers, check out Lone Star Ball. Oakland Athletics news and information can be found at Athletics Nation, and all your MLB news and info is available atBaseball Nation.

Google Translates Yu Darvish's Post Game Tweet (5/16)

Yu Darvish Paints Another Masterpiece

Yu Darvish continues to impress, this time in a game between first and second place.

Rangers Vs. A's: Ian Kinsler Scratched

Ian Kinsler has been removed from Wednesday's starting lineup as the Rangers take on the Oakland A's in Arlington. Per Anthony Andro, it's because of a stomach virus.

Rangers scratch Ian Kinsler with stomach virus. Elvis Andrus leading off. Alberto Gonzalez batting second.

— Anthony Andro (@aandro) May 16, 2012

It's not really any cause for concern, and Kinsler will likely be back in the lineup by Friday at the latest. With Andrus moving to leadoff and Gonzalez entering the lineup, Texas' lineup tonight now looks like this:

SS Elvis Andrus
2B Alberto Gonzalez
LF Josh Hamilton
3B Adrian Beltre
RF Nelson Cruz
DH Mike Napoli
C Yorvit Torrealba
1B Brandon Snyder
CF Craig Gentry

SP, Yu Darvish

Two regulars are now out of the lineup, with Michael Young getting the day off as he's mired in an ugly 8-for-48 slump. Still, with Andrus, Hamilton, Beltre, Cruz and Napoli in the lineup, Darvish should be able to get plenty of run support tonight.

For more on the Rangers, be sure to check out Lone Star Ball and join the discussion.

Rangers' Michael Young Gets A Day Off

Michael Young, who is mired in an 8-48 slump, has been given the night off on Wednesday by Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington. Evan Grant shared some of his thoughts on the move on Twitter earlier on Wednesday:

Rangers are sitting DH Michael Young tonight. Young, who has 8 hits in his last 48 at-bats (.167) doesn't buy into the idea of slumps, but manager Ron Washington has been giving all his regulars time off this week and Young is subject to the same treatment of all the other regulars. Significant: Young, a opposite field hitter, has 12 ground balls to short or third base, in those 48 at-bats. Tells you something isn't perfect with swing.

It's a long season, and giving Young the day off certainly isn't a bad thing, especially since Young hasn't been hitting much anyway.

Young out of the lineup is likely to Yu Darvish's benefit tonight, as Young is a poor defender. Hopefully for Young, the night off will give his body some rest and allow him to clear his head, and he'll come back with a strong showing on Thursday.

For more on the Rangers, be sure to check out Lone Star Ball and join the discussion.

Texas Rangers Vs. Oakland A's: Wednesday Starting Lineups

The Texas Rangers look to rebound after being swept by the Kansas City Royals in a brief two-game series on Wednesday night, as they play host to the second-place Oakland Athletics. Luckily for the Rangers, Yu Darvish will be taking the mound on Wednesday, and is as good a choice as any member of Texas' staff to stop the losing streak.

Both managers have announced starting lineups for the game, and they are as follows:

Oakland Athletics

Jemile Weeks, 2B
Collin Cowgill, CF
Josh Reddick, RF
Seth Smith, LF
Kila Ka'aihue, DH
Josh Donaldson, 3B
Daric Barton, 1B
Anthony Recker, C
Eric Sogard, SS

Tom Milone, SP

Texas Rangers

Ian Kinsler, 2B
Elvis Andrus, SS
Josh Hamilton, LF
Adrian Beltre, 3B
Nelson Cruz, RF
Mike Napoli, DH
Yorvit Torrealba, C
Brandon Snyder, 1B
Craig Gentry, CF

Yu Darvish, SP

Oakland's lineup isn't terribly imposing, so Darvish should be able to put up some pretty nice numbers tonight -- if he has command of his pitches. As always, Darvish's control and command are worth watching, and are pretty correlative to his success.

For more on the Rangers, be sure to head over to Lone Star Ball and join the discussion.

Rangers Vs. Athletics: Game 1 Preview, TV Info And More

Yu Darvish continues his impressive early season run Wednesday night against the A's in Arlington.

Texas Rangers Vs. Oakland Athletics Preview: Q&A With Athletics Nation

Tyler Bleszinski, founder of Athletics Nation and SB Nation, stops by to help us preview the brief two-game series between the Rangers and the A's.