The Oakland Athletics have dropped the first two games of their four-game set with the Texas Rangers and at this point are simply looking for some kind of spark to stay alive in the division race. The two losses have dropped the A’s to ten games back of the Rangers with the All Star break just around the corner. Since winning five straight in June the A’s have gone 5-11 and could very well end up twelve games back of first at the break if they don’t get things going soon.
The A’s will send out Brandon McCarthy to square off with Colby Lewis in McCarthy’s second start since coming off the disabled list. In his first start he went 6 2/3 innings and gave up two runs in a 2-1 loss that dropped him to 1-5. The Rangers can do some serious damage at home so he’ll face a tough challenge against an always explosive Rangers lineup.
The A’s have Chris Carter hitting in the seven spot as he looks to give the team a reason to keep him around after the All Star break. Carter is 4-for-25 with a walk and a run scored and 0 for his last 10. At this point it’s unlikely he sticks around after the break, but he’s got two days to prove otherwise.
Oakland Athletics
1. Jemile Weeks 2B
2. Coco Crisp CF
3. Hideki Matsui LF
4. Josh Willingham DH
5. Scott Sizemore 3B
6. David DeJesus RF
7. Chris Carter 1B
8. Landon Powell C
9. Cliff Pennington SS
Texas Rangers
1. Ian Kinsler 2B
2. Elvis Andrus SS
3. Josh Hamilton LF
4. Adrian Beltre DH
5. Michael Young 3B
6. Nelson Cruz RF
7. Mitch Moreland 1B
8. Yorvit Torrealba C
9. Endy Chavez CF