Rangers @ Athletics (September 4th-6th)

[Molina00]

Projected Matchups
Game 1: Robinson Tejeda (3-3, 6.87 ERA) vs. Barry Zito (15-8, 3.57 ERA)
3:05 PM Central on FSN

Game 2: Adam Eaton (4-4, 4.71 ERA) vs. Kirk Saarloos (7-6, 4.47 ERA)
9:05 PM Central on KDFI

Game 3: Vicente Padilla (13-9, 4.35 ERA) vs. Joe Blanton (14-10, 4.51 ERA)
2:35 PM Central on FSN

Game 1 Matchup Notes
Tejeda: Robinson has been solid on the road this year going 3-1 with a 4.28 ERA in 5 starts. He got roughed up last time out for 4 runs on 6 hits over 3 innings against the Orioles but went 2-0 allowing just 3 runs in 14.1 innings over his previous 2 starts. This is his first start against Oakland.

Zito: He had a very solid August going 4-1 with a 3.40 ERA in 6 starts. In 5 starts against Texas this year, Zito is 3-1 with a 5.35 ERA. In his last start against Texas he allowed 1 ER on 2 hits over 8.1 innings for the win.

Game 2 Matchup Notes
Eaton: Adam has been hit hard on the road this year going 1-2 with a 5.40 ERA in 3 starts. His only start against Oakland this year, on August 26th, he allowed 4 runs on 6 hits over 3 innings and took the loss. He did give up just 1 ER while striking out 7 in 5 innings for the win over the Orioles in his last start though

Saarloos: He had an incredible month of August going 4-0 with a stellar 2.01 ERA in 3 starts and 1 relief appearance for Oakland. Saarloos has made 3 appearances against Texas this year, 1 as a starter and 2 in relief. As a starter he has allowed 4 runs in 7 innings with a loss but has pitched 5.1 scoreless innings in relief against the Rangers.

Game 3 Matchup Notes
Padilla: Vicente has had some very good success against Oakland in his career. He is 3-1 with a 2.84 ERA in 5 starts against them this year, and is 3-1 with a 3.44 ERA in 7 lifetime starts against the A's.

Blanton: Joe was roughed up in his last start but posted an ERA of 3.13 in 31.2 innings pitched in the month of August. In 3 starts against the Rangers this year Blanton is 1-0 with a 3.57 ERA.

[Molina00]

Some pretty good start time on the Monday/Wednesday games. No school on those days and right in the afternoon so good watching times.

Best chance at a win is Padilla's game, but hopefully Eaton can continue his strong pitching and Tejeda can get back to where he was a couple of starts ago.

[brewersfan19]

Hey there Rangers fans... How ya been... I have been pouting so much about the Brewers that I have been rather scarce lately.. Now that reality has sunk in, I am back to be open minded about other teams and players... ANd members opinions, ideas, thoughts, whatever they have to say... Just thought I would say hey..

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Gary Matthews Junior

Matthews draws the leadoff walk.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Michael Young

Young grounds into the fielder's choice.
Young and and Matthews moved to 2nd.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Mark Teixeira

Teixeira draws the walk. Runners on 1st and 2nd, 1 out.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Carlos Lee

Lee flies out to shallow centerfield.
Runners on 1st and 2nd, 2 out.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Mark DeRosa

DeRosa draws the walk to load the bases with 2 outs.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Eric Young

This is Young's first appearance as a Ranger this season.
Young drills a double to the left-centerfield gap. Two runs score, Rangers up 2-0.

Runners on 2nd and 3rd with 2 out.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Gerald Laird

Laird goes down swinging ending Zito's near 40 pitch first inning.

Rangers lead 2-0 heading into the bottom of the 1st.

[Molina00]

Bottom of the 1st
Pitching for Texas: Robinson Tejeda

Jason Kendall flies out to right-centerfield. Matthews makes a nice running catch for the first out.

Mark Kotsay grounds a single into leftfield. Runner on 1st, 1 out.

Milton Bradley grounds into the 4-6-3 double play.

Inning over.
Rangers lead 2-0 after 1.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Ian Kinsler

Kinsler pops out to shortstop for the first out.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Nelson Cruz

Cruz smashes an inside-the-park homerun to the left-centerfield gap. 3-0 Rangers.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Gary Matthews Jr.

Matthews grounds out to secondbase for the 2nd out.

[Molina00]

Barry Zito
vs.
Michael Young

Young grounds out to thirdbase to end the inning.

Rangers score 1.
Rangers lead 3-0.