Oakland @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 7, 2011 ) Oakland 0, Texas 6

THE STORY: The Texas Rangers’ offense is firing on all cylinders. They have 56 hits and 36 runs during their four-game win streak, maintaining their lead in the American League West. The Rangers will try to keep it going with C.J. Wilson on the mound against Gio Gonzalez and the visiting Oakland Athletics on Friday night in a battle of two of the league’s best lefthanders. The A’s still lead the season series, 4-3, but the Rangers have won two of three at home. Oakland has lost four of six and 10 of 15, scoring just five runs its last four games.

TV: 8:05 p.m. EST, KTXA (Texas), CSCA (Oakland).

PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH C.J. Wilson (8-3, 3.02) vs. Athletics LH Gio Gonzalez (8-5, 2.31).

Wilson has won four straight decisions and has not lost since May 20, but he has been beaten by Oakland in both starts this season. The A’s have scored seven earned runs in 14 innings against Wilson in the two outings. Wilson is 2-5 lifetime with a 4.42 ERA over 55 innings against Oakland. The current A’s lineup is 18-for-82 (.146) against Wilson.

Gonzalez has given up four runs combined in his last four starts, with 34 strikeouts in 28 innings and a 3-0 record. He beat Texas on May 1, allowing two runs in 6 2/3 innings. Gonzalez is 4-1 lifetime against Texas with a 2.18 ERA over 45 1/3 innings. Texas hitters are batting .214 vs. Gonzalez. Adrian Beltre is 7-for-16 with two homers and seven RBIs against him.

ABOUT THE RANGERS (48-41): Josh Hamilton had gone a bit under the radar during the previous three games, but he came up with four RBIs in the first game of the series. The All-Star outfielder has 10 RBIs in seven July games. Michael Young may be the hottest hitter, going 11-for-19 the last five games. Young is one of the league leaders with 114 hits and a .328 average. Leadoff batter Ian Kinsler has also picked it up of late with eight hits in his last 22 at bats. Endy Chavez continues to do the job in center field, going 8-for-18 in July to raise his average to .337.

ABOUT THE ATHLETICS (39-50): The A’s won’t find their way back into the AL West race unless their offense improves. Getting Josh Willingham back from the disabled list Thursday will help. Willingham, out since June 17 with an Achilles injury, still leads the team with 10 homers and 42 RBIs. Newcomers Scott Sizemore and Jemile Weeks have given the A’s a boost, but they are still among the worst hitting teams in the majors. Catcher Kurt Suzuki is still hitting just .227, but he is 6-for-13 the last four games. Hideki Matsui has been a big disappointment, batting just .211 with six homers and 33 RBIs.

FINAL PITCH: A Rangers fan was killed Thursday when he fell headfirst over the railing while trying to catch a ball tossed to him by Rangers OF Hamilton in the second inning. The 39-year-old man was pronounced dead after going into full arrest en route to the hospital. The Rangers closed the clubhouse to the media after the game. "Josh is very distraught over this, as is the entire team," Rangers president Nolan Ryan said.