AL: TEXAS (69-77) at OAKLAND (72-76) <h3>Meyer, A's host Rangers in AL West clash</h3> Texas (69-77) at Oakland (72-76) 10:05 pm EDT OAKLAND, California (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics aren'tused to fighting to stay out of the American League Westbasement. That spot generall has been reserved for the TexasRangers. Dan Meyer makes his second start of the season Friday when theAthletics host the Rangers in a contest between the two worstteams in the AL West. Oakland has made the playoffs four of the last six seasons andfinished over .500 for eight straight years. Oakland posted a6-5 win in Thursday's series opener as Nick Swisher hit atwo-run homer and Chad Gaudin threw six effective innings. Meyer (0-1, 4.32) looks to lead the A's to their fifth win insix tries here. The lefthander, who was acquired in the tradethat sent Tim Hudson to Atlanta, is making his first start sinceAugust 17. The 26-year-old allowed six runs - three earned -in four innings of a 9-2 loss to Kansas City. Kason Gabbard (6-1, 4.07) gets the ball for Texas, which has notmade the playoffs since 1999. Gabbard aims for his thirdstraight winning decision. The lefthander has not pitched sinceSeptember 2 because of a blister on his thumb.
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS AT OAKLAND -- LINEUPS TEXAS OAKLAND AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Ian Kinsler 2B .270 19 56 Shannon Stewart LF .290 12 47 Brad Wilkerson 1B .235 20 61 Daric Barton 1B .353 0 0 Michael Young SS .313 7 76 Nick Swisher CF .263 20 71 Sammy Sosa DH .253 19 83 Mike Piazza DH .284 7 42 Marlon Byrd RF .307 9 62 Mark Ellis 2B .276 17 64 Jason Botts LF .237 2 13 Jack Cust RF .256 23 75 David Murphy CF .385 2 10 Kurt Suzuki C .246 7 32 Travis Metcalf 3B .242 2 14 Jack Hannahan 3B .272 3 17 Gerald Laird C .217 8 42 Donnie Murphy SS .212 5 17 Kason Gabbard LHP (6-1, 4.07) Dan Meyer LHP (0-1, 4.32)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND WARMUPS: TEX - KASON GABBARD (6-1, 4.07) OAK - DAN MEYER (0-1, 4.32) UMPIRES: HP - TIM TIMMONS 1B - ALFONSO MARQUEZ 2B - CHUCK MERIWETHER 3B - RICK REED WEATHER: 67 Degrees, clear WIND: 17 mph, out to right</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND STARTING BATS: TEX - KASON GABBARD AND GERALD LAIRD OAK - DAN MEYER AND KURT SUZUKI DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.270, 19 HR, 56 RBI) B WILKERSON (.235, 20 HR, 61 RBI) M YOUNG (.313, 7 HR, 76 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD OAK - DAN MEYER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: S STEWART (.290, 12 HR, 47 RBI) D BARTON (.353, 0 HR, 0 RBI) N SWISHER (.263, 20 HR, 71 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .234 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .253 M Byrd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 D Murphy cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .385 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Sosa 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - I Kinsler (20, 2nd base off D Meyer/K Suzuki). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .290 D Barton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .353 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Piazza dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .284 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 0 -- 0 OAKLAND - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4.07 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Meyer 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.86 Pitches-strikes: D Meyer 15-7. Ground balls-fly balls: D Meyer 1-2. Batters faced: D Meyer 4. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Timmons. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Rick Reed. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND CONFIRMED STARTERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD OAK - DAN MEYER</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 0 OAKLAND 0 0 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD OAK - DAN MEYER DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.307, 9 HR, 62 RBI) J BOTTS (.237, 2 HR, 13 RBI) D MURPHY (.385, 2 HR, 10 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .234 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .253 M Byrd rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .307 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 D Murphy cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .385 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 0 2 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Sosa 1. Team LOB - 1. BASERUNNING: SB - I Kinsler (20, 2nd base off D Meyer/K Suzuki). FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Metcalf-B Wilkerson). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .389 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .283 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: 2B - D Barton (3, K Gabbard). GIDP - M Piazza. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 0 -- 0 OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.02 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Meyer 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.86 HBP - N Swisher (by K Gabbard). Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 13-7; D Meyer 15-7. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 2-1; D Meyer 1-2. Batters faced: K Gabbard 4; D Meyer 4. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Timmons. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Rick Reed. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 1 0 OAKLAND 0 0 1 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD OAK - DAN MEYER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M ELLIS (.276, 17 HR, 64 RBI) J CUST (.256, 23 HR, 75 RBI) K SUZUKI (.246, 7 HR, 32 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS OAKLAND (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .234 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .253 M Byrd rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .307 J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 D Murphy cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .394 T Metcalf 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .240 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Totals 7 0 1 0 1 2 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Sosa 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - I Kinsler (20, 2nd base off D Meyer/K Suzuki). FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Metcalf-B Wilkerson). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .389 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .283 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .276 J Cust rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .256 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .246 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Totals 3 0 1 0 0 0 2 BATTING: 2B - D Barton (3, K Gabbard). GIDP - M Piazza. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 00 -- 0 OAKLAND - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 4.02 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Meyer 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 3.48 HBP - N Swisher (by K Gabbard). Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 13-7; D Meyer 32-16. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 2-1; D Meyer 2-2. Batters faced: K Gabbard 4; D Meyer 8. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Timmons. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Rick Reed. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - TEXAS 0 0 0 1 0 OAKLAND 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - KASON GABBARD OAK - DAN MEYER DUE UP FOR TEXAS: G LAIRD (.217, 8 HR, 42 RBI) I KINSLER (.270, 0-FOR-0, BB) B WILKERSON (.234, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS OAKLAND (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .270 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .234 M Young ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .312 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .253 M Byrd rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .307 J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .235 D Murphy cf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .394 T Metcalf 3b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .240 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .217 Totals 7 0 1 0 1 2 3 BATTING: Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - S Sosa 1. Team LOB - 2. BASERUNNING: SB - I Kinsler (20, 2nd base off D Meyer/K Suzuki). FIELDING: DP: 1 (T Metcalf-B Wilkerson). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .289 D Barton 1b 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .389 N Swisher cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 M Piazza dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 .283 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .275 J Cust rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .255 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .272 D Murphy ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .212 Totals 6 0 1 0 0 1 2 BATTING: 2B - D Barton (3, K Gabbard). GIDP - M Piazza. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 00 -- 0 OAKLAND - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era K Gabbard 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 3.97 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Meyer 2 1 0 0 1 2 0 3.48 HBP - N Swisher (by K Gabbard). Pitches-strikes: K Gabbard 24-16; D Meyer 32-16. Ground balls-fly balls: K Gabbard 3-2; D Meyer 2-2. Batters faced: K Gabbard 7; D Meyer 8. UMPIRES: HP--Tim Timmons. 1B--Alfonso Marquez. 2B--Chuck Meriwether. 3B--Rick Reed. Weather: 68 degrees, clear. Wind: 17 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL TEXAS AT OAKLAND NOTE: TEXAS SHORTSTOP MICHAEL YOUNG SINGLED IN THE THIRD INNING TO EXTEND HIS HITTING STREAK TO 14 GAMES.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY SAMMY SOSA SCORED IAN KINSLER AND BRAD WILKERSON. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, S SOSA ON FIRST, M YOUNG ON SECOND, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.307, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MARLON BYRD SCORED MICHAEL YOUNG. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, M BYRD ON FIRST, S SOSA ON THIRD, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 3 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J BOTTS (.235, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - PITCHING CHANGE OAK: COLBY LEWIS (0-2, 7.29) IN THE 3RD SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, D MURPHY ON FIRST, M BYRD ON SECOND, S SOSA ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 3, OAKLAND 0 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: T METCALF (.240, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: C Lewis relieved D Meyer. SITUATION: 3 RUNS IN, D MURPHY ON FIRST, M BYRD ON SECOND, S SOSA ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 3 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR TEXAS: T Metcalf (.240, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE BASES LOADED WALK TO TRAVIS METCALF SCORED SAMMY SOSA. SITUATION: 4 RUNS IN, T METCALF ON FIRST, D MURPHY ON SECOND, M BYRD ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 4 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR TEXAS: G LAIRD (.216, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY GERALD LAIRD SCORED MARLON BYRD AND DAVID MURPHY. SITUATION: 6 RUNS IN, G LAIRD ON FIRST, T METCALF ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 6 OAKLAND 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.270, 0-FOR-0, 2 BB)</div>
