Oakland @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2012 ) Oakland 3, Texas 2

The Oakland Athletics kept the suspense going in the American League West race with a dramatic victory and seek to notch another one when they face the first-place Texas Rangers in Wednesday’s third contest of a four-game set. Oakland’s George Kottaras hit a game-deciding 10th-inning homer to pull the Athletics within four games of the Rangers with just eight left to play. The two teams still have five more games remaining against each other.

Oakland has a two-game lead over the Los Angeles Angels in the competition for the AL’s second wild card. The Athletics have won just three of their last nine games and part of the problem is slugger Josh Reddick’s string of 28 straight hitless at-bats. Texas has a magic number of five for clinching its third straight division crown. The Rangers are struggling to notch clutch hits and are just 5-for-52 with runners in scoring position over their last nine games. Texas star Josh Hamilton is 3-for-7 in two games since returning from a five-game absence due to sinus and vision issues.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, ESPN, Comcast SportsNet California (Oakland), Fox Sports Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Athletics RH Jarrod Parker (11-8, 3.40 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Martin Perez (1-2, 3.78)

Parker thoroughly dominated the Rangers on June 4 when he allowed one hit – an eighth-inning single to Michael Young – in eight shutout innings. He took a no-decision against the New York Yankees in his last outing when he gave up one run and six hits in eight innings. Parker has won four of his last five decisions in what has been a solid rookie campaign.

Perez defeated Oakland on June 30 for his lone major-league victory. He held the Athletics to two runs and six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Perez lost to the Seattle Mariners in his last outing when he gave up four runs (three earned) and six hits in four innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Oakland hitters fanned 15 times Tuesday to raise their season total to 1,322, two shy of the AL record held by the 2007 Tampa Bay Rays.

2. Rangers SS Elvis Andrus had a two-hit game Tuesday after being 4-for-32 over his previous eight games.

3. Athletics OF Coco Crisp (pink eye) was used as a pinch runner Tuesday but has missed seven straight starts.