Texas @ Oakland preview
Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Last Meeting ( Aug 6, 2010 ) Texas 5, Oakland 1
The Texas Rangers made a decision to stick with Rich Harden in the rotation, and move Scott Feldman to the bullpen last week.
The decision came down to Harden’s second-half of last season. Over 12 starts, Harden posted a 2.55 ERA - and the Rangers believe he can do that again this season.
Harden takes the hill for the second time since the All-Star break on Saturday, as he will face his former team, the Oakland Athletics. The A’s will counter with left-hander Gio Gonzalez.
In his first start since returning from the disabled list on July 31, Harden led the Rangers to a 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. He allowed one run and five hits in seven innings, tossing just 88 pitches.
It was only the second time this season that Harden went at least seven innings. In his first start against Oakland on May 3, Harden carried a no-hitter into the sixth inning and eventually earned the victory in Texas' 4-2 win.
Before rejoining the Rangers rotation, Harden made four rehab starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City. He went 0-2 with a 5.19 ERA with 24 strikeouts and only five walks.
Offensively, the Rangers received an unexpected boost from backup catcher Taylor Teagarden on Friday night.
Teagarden entered the game hitting .059, but doubled in his first at-bat and then added a two-run home run in the fifth inning. Josh Hamilton also went deep for the Rangers, blasting his 24th homer of the season.
Gonzalez, meanwhile, has pitched well of late for the A’s. In his last eight starts, Gonzalez is 3-2 with a 2.84 ERA.
In his last start against the Chicago White Sox, Gonzalez permitted four runs and six hits with a season-high 11 strikeouts in eight innings. Unfortunately for Gonzalez, he ended up with the loss at the A's fell, 4-1.
Lifetime against the Rangers, Gonzalez is 1-1 with a 2.29 ERA in five games - including three starts.
Offensively, the A’s took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Kurt Suzuki’s RBI double on Friday. But that was the only run Oakland managed to score against Texas ace Cliff Lee.