AL: TEXAS (69-79) at OAKLAND (74-76) <h3>DiNardo, Athletics aim for four-game sweep of Rangers</h3> <div class="pre">Texas (69-79) at Oakland (74-76) 4:05 pm EDT</div> OAKLAND, California (Ticker) - The Oakland Athletics look tocomplete a four-game sweep of the Texas Rangers on Sunday. Oakland never has swept a four-game set from Texas. Behind an excellent pitching performance by Joe Blanton, Oakland<div class="pre">posted a 7-3 win on Saturday.</div> Trying for the sweep, the A's turn to Lenny DiNardo (8-9, 3.87ERA), who is 0-3 in his last four starts. Prior to hisstruggles, the lefthander went 5-0 in his previous sevenoutings. The Rangers, who have lost five straight, counter with VicentePadilla (6-9, 5.70), who has won his last three decisions.The righthander, who has given up just seven runs in his lastfour starts, has yielded just one in the three wins. Oakland needs to win eight of its final 12 games to finish witha winning record for the ninth straight season.
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS AT OAKLAND -- LINEUPS TEXAS OAKLAND AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Ian Kinsler 2B .269 19 57 Daric Barton 1B .346 1 2 Brad Wilkerson 1B .235 20 61 Nick Swisher RF .266 22 73 Michael Young SS .310 7 76 Jack Cust LF .262 23 77 Sammy Sosa DH .254 20 88 Mark Ellis 2B .274 17 66 Marlon Byrd CF .306 9 63 Dan Johnson DH .237 17 59 Jason Botts LF .236 2 13 Marco Scutaro SS .261 7 41 Nelson Cruz RF .221 7 26 Jack Hannahan 3B .263 3 17 Gerald Laird C .220 8 44 Kurt Suzuki C .249 7 34 Travis Metcalf 3B .236 2 15 Jeff Davanon CF .216 0 4 Vicente Padilla RHP (6-9, 5.70) Lenny Dinardo LHP (8-9, 3.87)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND WARMUPS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA (6-9, 5.70) OAK - LENNY DINARDO (8-9, 3.87) UMPIRES: HP - CHUCK MERIWETHER 1B - RICK REED 2B - TIM TIMMONS 3B - ALFONSO MARQUEZ WEATHER: 68 Degrees, partly cloudy WIND: 10 mph, out to right</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND STARTING BATS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA AND GERALD LAIRD OAK - LENNY DINARDO AND KURT SUZUKI DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.269, 19 HR, 57 RBI) B WILKERSON (.235, 20 HR, 61 RBI) M YOUNG (.310, 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 - VICENTE PADILLA OAK - LENNY DINARDO DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D BARTON (.346, 1 HR, 2 RBI) N SWISHER (.266, 22 HR, 73 RBI) J CUST (.262, 23 HR, 77 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 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 M Young ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .310 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254 M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .220 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Barton 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .346 N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 J Cust lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .262 M Ellis 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .274 D Johnson dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .237 M Scutaro ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .261 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249 J DaVanon cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 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 V Padilla 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.70 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era L DiNardo 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.84 Pitches-strikes: L DiNardo 23-14. Ground balls-fly balls: L DiNardo 2-0. Batters faced: L DiNardo 4. UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Rick Reed. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Alfonso Marquez. Weather: 68 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND CONFIRMED STARTERS: TEX - VICENTE PADILLA OAK - LENNY DINARDO</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND NOTE: THE GAME IS BEING DELAYED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST INNING SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, N SWISHER ON FIRST, D BARTON ON SECOND, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND NOTE: THE GAME HAS RESUMED IN THE BOTTOM OF THE FIRST INNING AFTER A 7 MINUTE DELAY. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, N SWISHER ON FIRST, D BARTON ON SECOND, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - PITCHING CHANGE TEX: JAMEY WRIGHT (3-5, 3.63) IN THE 1ST SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, N SWISHER ON FIRST, D BARTON ON SECOND, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0, OAKLAND 0 DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J CUST (.262, 23 HR, 77 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: J Wright relieved V Padilla. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, N SWISHER ON FIRST, D BARTON ON SECOND, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0 OAKLAND 0 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J Cust (.262, 0-FOR-0)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: K Thompson ran for N Swisher. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, K THOMPSON ON FIRST, D BARTON ON SECOND, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0 OAKLAND 0 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: J Cust (.262, 0-FOR-0)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE FIELDER'S CHOICE BY DAN JOHNSON SCORED DARIC BARTON. ERROR BY MICHAEL YOUNG ALLOWED KEVIN THOMPSON TO SCORE. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, D JOHNSON ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0 OAKLAND 2 BOTTOM, 1ST DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: M SCUTARO (.261, 7 HR, 41 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 1 OAKLAND 2 2 1 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: TEX - JAMEY WRIGHT OAK - LENNY DINARDO DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.306, 9 HR, 63 RBI) J BOTTS (.236, 2 HR, 13 RBI) N CRUZ (.221, 7 HR, 26 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">TEXAS (0) VS OAKLAND (2) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .268 B Wilkerson 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .234 M Young ss 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .310 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .254 M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .306 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .221 J Saltalamacchia c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .241 T Metcalf 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .236 Totals 3 0 0 0 1 1 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. FIELDING: E - M Young (16, throw). OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg D Barton 1b 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .370 N Swisher rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .266 K Thompson pr 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 .172 J Cust lf 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 .262 M Ellis 2b 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 .273 D Johnson dh 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 .236 M Scutaro ss 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .260 J Hannahan 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .263 K Suzuki c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .249 J DaVanon cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .216 Totals 4 2 1 1 1 0 5 BATTING: RBI - D Johnson (60). Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Scutaro 1. Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS - 0 -- 0 OAKLAND - 2 -- 2 ---------------------------------------------------- TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era V Padilla 0 1 2 1 0 0 0 5.77 J Wright 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 3.57 OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era L DiNardo 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 3.84 V Padilla pitched to 2 batters in the 1st. HBP - N Swisher (by V Padilla). Pitches-strikes: V Padilla 10-5; J Wright 15-8; L DiNardo 23-14. Ground balls-fly balls: V Padilla 0-0; J Wright 2-1; L DiNardo 2-0. Batters faced: V Padilla 2; J Wright 4; L DiNardo 4. UMPIRES: HP--Chuck Meriwether. 1B--Rick Reed. 2B--Tim Timmons. 3B--Alfonso Marquez. EJECTIONS: OAKLAND's Swisher by Meriwether (1st), TEXAS' Padilla by Meriwether (1st). (Plus other delay totaling 7 minutes in the 1st). Weather: 68 degrees, partly cloudy. Wind: 10 mph, out to right.</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: K Thompson in right field. SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 0 OAKLAND 2 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M Byrd (.306, 0-FOR-0)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE SACRIFICE FLY BY NELSON CRUZ SCORED MARLON BYRD. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, J BOTTS ON FIRST, 1 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 1 OAKLAND 2 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR TEXAS: J SALTALAMACCHIA (.241, 7 HR, 18 RBI)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - SCORING UPDATE BASES LOADED WALK TO BRAD WILKERSON SCORED JASON BOTTS. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B WILKERSON ON FIRST, I KINSLER ON SECOND, T METCALF ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2 OAKLAND 2 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M YOUNG (.310, 0-FOR-0, BB)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - PITCHING CHANGE OAK: RUDDY LUGO (6-0, 5.54) IN THE 2ND SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B WILKERSON ON FIRST, I KINSLER ON SECOND, T METCALF ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2, OAKLAND 2 DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M YOUNG (.310, 0-FOR-0)</div>
AL: TEXAS at OAKLAND <div class="pre">AL AT OAKLAND - MID INNING UPDATE PLAY: R Lugo relieved L DiNardo. SITUATION: 2 RUNS IN, B WILKERSON ON FIRST, I KINSLER ON SECOND, T METCALF ON THIRD, 2 OUTS CURRENT SCORE: TEXAS 2 OAKLAND 2 TOP, 2ND DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M Young (.310, 0-FOR-0)</div>
