Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Colby Lewis (9-8, 3.45) Oakland - Trevor Cahill (11-4, 2.72)
(Sports Network) - Trevor Cahill hopes to give Oakland another strong pitching performance, as the Athletics conclude a three-game set with the Texas Rangers today at the Coliseum.
Last night, Gio Gonzalez tossed seven shutout innings, and Coco Crisp homered and drove in three runs to lead Oakland over American League West-leading Texas, 6-2, in the middle installment of a three-game series.
Gonzalez (10-7) held the Rangers to four hits and three walks while fanning two for the Athletics, who have alternated wins and losses over their past eight contests and remain 8 1/2 games back of the division leaders.
Taylor Teagarden homered for Texas, while Rich Harden (4-4), in his second start since being activated off the disabled list, only lasted 2 1/3 innings thanks to five walks allowed. The former A's ace gave up two hits and three runs in his shortest outing of the year.
"(Harden) didn't have any command. He couldn't place his fastball where he wanted to and couldn't get his changeup over," said Texas manager Ron Washington.
Toeing the rubber for Texas today will be Colby Lewis, who has dropped three consecutive starts while receiving just two total runs of support during that stretch. On Tuesday, the right-hander gave up three earned runs and nine hits over six innings of a 3-2 loss at Seattle. He struck out nine in falling to 4-6 on the road.
In three starts against the A's this season, Lewis is 0-2 with a 3.15 ERA. He has received a total of just three runs from Texas in those appearances.
Cahill, meanwhile, gets the nod for Oakland and he is currently riding a streak of 18 straight scoreless innings that spans three games. On Monday, the 22-year-old tossed a three-hit shutout in a 6-0 win over Kansas City. It marked the first complete game for Cahill, who is holding opponents to a league-low .192 batting average.
The right-hander has had his way with the Rangers as well, boasting a 5-1 record and a 1.83 ERA in seven career starts against them. In three meetings versus Texas this season, Cahill is 2-0 with a glaring 0.96 ERA.
Texas, though, has won six of its 11 matchups with the A's this season.