Athletics-Rangers Preview

5/11/2008 1:26 AM

By KATE HEDLIN
STATS Writer

The Texas Rangers' shutout streak is over, but their pitching staff's depth continues to impress.

The Rangers look for their sixth straight win Sunday when they wrap up a three-game home series against the Oakland Athletics.

Texas (18-20) has won five straight and nine of 11, with their pitching staff compiling a 2.51 ERA over that span. The Rangers still have the second-highest ERA in the AL at 4.62, but their starting rotation is 7-2 during the last 11 games.

"When we get good starting pitching we can compete with anybody," Texas manager Ron Washington said.

After three consecutive shutouts, Texas gave up its first runs in 33 innings but held on for a 6-4 win over the Athletics (22-16) on Sunday. The victory was all the more impressive considering starter Kevin Millwood lasted just two-thirds of an innings because of a strained groin.

It was the second time in three games the Texas bullpen worked some extended innings. On Thursday, starter Kason Gabbard left after 3 2-3 innings because of a leg injury.

"They did a great job," Millwood said of the relievers. "It's great that we won the game and it's great that they did as good of a job as they did."

Milton Bradley homered and drove in three runs for Texas.

Oakland's Frank Thomas hit a two-run double in the ninth, but it wasn't enough for the A's, who had won four in a row before dropping the first two games of this series.

"The last couple of nights, we haven't taken advantage of our opportunities," Oakland manager Bob Geren said. "We've had a hard time getting that key hit."

Oakland, which dropped three straight games April 15-17, will try to avoid matching that skid when it faces the Rangers' Sidney Ponson (2-0, 1.33 ERA), who looks to continue his impressive return to the majors.

Ponson, who pitched seven games for the Twins in 2007 before being released, was signed to a minor-league contract by the Rangers in March. After an April 26 call-up, he has allowed just one earned run in each of his three starts.

"Maybe we got lucky," Washington said. "Maybe we got lightning in a bottle."

He worked seven innings of Tuesday's 10-1 victory over Seattle.

The right-hander is 3-3 with a 7.35 ERA in 10 career starts against the Athletics, but has not faced them since 2004.

Injury-prone Rich Harden (1-0, 0.82) returns to Oakland's rotation to make his first start since April 2. He's been on the disabled list since then with a strain under his right shoulder blade.

The right-hander won 21 total games in 2004 and 2005, but injuries have limited him to 18 total appearances since then. Geren told the A's official Web site that Harden will not be on a pitch count Sunday.

Harden is 5-2 with a 3.73 ERA in 10 career starts and one relief appearance against the Rangers.