The Oakland Athletics struggled mightily Thursday night against the Texas Rangers as they lost 6-0 in a makeup of their May 11 rain out. The loss drops the A’s to eleven games under .500 and nine games back of the Rangers with three games left in the series.
In the rained out game the Rangers jumped all over Gio Gonzalez for seven runs through 2 2/3 innings but Gio was saved by the rain. Rich Harden was not quite so lucky as he was hammered for five runs in five innings. Harden struggled to get his pitches down and the Rangers were able to jump all over him. They grabbed eight hits, two walks and a pair of sacrifices to tag Harden for five runs.
The A’s offense could not provide Harden with any support as they made a struggling Derek Holland look like an All Star. Holland scattered four hits and two walks while striking out seven for the complete game shutout.
The two teams meet back up Friday evening at 5:05pm pacific on CSN California. Gio Gonzalez faces CJ Wilson as the A’s look to get back on the winning track.