Texas @ Oakland preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 9, 2015 ) Texas 2, Oakland 1

The red-hot Texas Rangers continue their surge toward the American League West lead and try to clinch their seventh consecutive series victory when they visit the Oakland Athletics on Wednesday in the middle contest of their three-game series. Texas improved to 8-2 in its last 10 contests and moved within two games of first-place Houston after prevailing 2-1 on Tuesday as Mitch Moreland continued his productive road trip.

Moreland is 7-for-15 with two home runs, a double and three RBIs in the first four contests of the Rangers' six-game trek after belting a solo shot Tuesday and has 12 homers against Oakland — his most against any team. Texas also improved its major league-best road record to 20-12 and has not been shut out in 55 straight games — the longest active streak in baseball. The Athletics are a major league-worst 3-16 in one-run games and 1-11 in such contests at home. Oakland's Jesse Hahn boasts a 2.36 ERA over his last five starts (2-2) and opposes Yovani Gallardo, who is unbeaten in his last three turns (2-0).

TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, FSN Southwest (Texas), CSN California (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Yovani Gallardo (5-6, 3.54) vs. Athletics RH Jesse Hahn (3-5, 3.51)

Gallardo received a no-decision after allowing an unearned run and three hits in six innings of a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday after yielding four runs (three earned) over 12 innings in his previous two starts. After beginning the season 2-5 with a 4.19 ERA, the 29-year-old Mexican is 3-1, 2.70 in his last five turns — including four quality starts — with 19 strikeouts against seven walks in 30 innings. Gallardo is 0-3 with a 6.48 ERA in three turns against Oakland, including a 7-1 loss May 3 when he permitted four runs (three earned) and four walks in 6 2/3 innings.

Hahn yielded one run and struck out five in a 7-5 victory at Detroit on Thursday for his second victory over the Tigers in his last three starts. The 25-year-old Connecticut native, who is 1-2 with a 2.84 ERA in six home outings this season, limits right-handed batters to a .181 average, but it jumps to .290 versus left-handers. Hahn lost his only start to Texas — 3-1 in his season opener April 7 — when he yielded three runs in six innings, including a pair of RBI singles to Prince Fielder.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Athletics' Ben Zobrist on Tuesday snapped an 0-for-18 slide with a double in the eight inning and is 7-for-42 since returning from the disabled list May 26.

2. Oakland CF Billy Burns, who leads AL rookies with 43 hits, had his career-high 12-game hitting streak snapped Tuesday after going 0-for-5.

3. Athletics starters are 8-5 with a 1.93 ERA in their last 16 games.

PREDICTION: Athletics 3, Rangers 2