AL: OAKLAND (53-59) at TEXAS (48-63) <h3>Athletics look to overcome offensive woes in Texas</h3> <div class="pre">Oakland (53-59) at Texas (48-63) 8:35 pm EDT</div> ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) -- The Oakland Athletics try to turnaround their offensive struggles when they open a three-gameseries against the Texas Rangers on Monday. Oakland ranks last in the American League in a number ofoffensive categories including runs scored (478), average withrunners in scoring position (.241) and double plays (108). TheA's have a batting average of .251, second lowest in the AL. Thanks to their offensive struggles, the Athletics are six gamesunder .500 and 12 games back in the AL West Division. Mike Piazza has been hot for Oakland. Since being activated fromthe disabled list on July 20, the veteran has hit safely in 12of 14 games with 13 RBI. The Athletics will take their swings against John Rheinecker(1-0, 5.74 ERA), who will make his first start against hisformer team. The lefthander was acquired by Rangers at thebeginning of the 2006 season. Rheinecker tossed a scoreless frame in relief in his onlyappearance against the A's. Oakland will counter with Dallas Braden (1-6, 5.28), who hasn'twon since his first start of the season on April 24 - a span of10 starts. The lefthander surrendered two runs on four hits butlasted just 5 1/3 innings in his last start in a no-decisionagainst Detroit on August 1. Braden lost against the Rangers on July 16, allowing four runs andeight hits in six innings. The Rangers have lost four straight and seven on their last ninegames.
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">OAKLAND AT TEXAS -- LINEUPS OAKLAND TEXAS AVG HR RBI AVG HR RBI Travis Buck RF .282 7 31 Ian Kinsler 2B .244 14 38 Shannon Stewart LF .301 8 33 Ramon Vazquez 3B .250 5 17 Nick Swisher CF .254 14 56 Michael Young SS .301 4 59 Mike Piazza DH .290 3 21 Sammy Sosa DH .242 16 70 Mark Ellis 2B .259 14 48 Marlon Byrd CF .318 3 37 Dan Johnson 1B .238 11 41 Nelson Cruz RF .214 6 20 Marco Scutaro 3B .239 4 18 Jason Botts LF .176 0 1 Donnie Murphy SS .195 1 7 Jarrod Saltalamacc 1B .143 0 2 Kurt Suzuki C .222 2 10 Gerald Laird C .238 6 33 Dallas Braden LHP (1-6, 5.28) John Rheinecker LHP (1-0, 5.74)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS WARMUPS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN (1-6, 5.28) TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER (1-0, 5.74) UMPIRES: HP - BILL MILLER 1B - MARVIN HUDSON 2B - CHRIS GUCCIONE 3B - ED MONTAGUE WEATHER: 92 Degrees, clear WIND: 8 mph, right to left</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS STARTING BATS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN AND KURT SUZUKI TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER AND GERALD LAIRD DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: T BUCK (.282, 7 HR, 31 RBI) S STEWART (.301, 8 HR, 33 RBI) N SWISHER (.254, 14 HR, 56 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE SINGLE BY MARK ELLIS SCORED NICK SWISHER. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M ELLIS ON FIRST, M PIAZZA ON SECOND, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 1 TEXAS 0 TOP, 1ST DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D JOHNSON (.238, 11 HR, 41 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE GRAND SLAM BY MARCO SCUTARO (5) TO LEFT WITH 2 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF JOHN RHEINECKER SCORED MIKE PIAZZA, MARK ELLIS AND DAN JOHNSON. CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 5, TEXAS 0 DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D MURPHY (.195, 1 HR, 7 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE SOLO HOME RUN BY DONNIE MURPHY (2) TO LEFT CENTER WITH 2 OUT IN THE 1ST OFF JOHN RHEINECKER. CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 6, TEXAS 0 DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: K SUZUKI (.222, 2 HR, 10 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 6 6 5 0 TEXAS 0 0 0 (BOT 1) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER DUE UP FOR TEXAS: I KINSLER (.244, 14 HR, 38 RBI) R VAZQUEZ (.250, 5 HR, 17 RBI) M YOUNG (.301, 4 HR, 59 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">OAKLAND (6) VS TEXAS (0) - MID 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281 S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .300 N Swisher cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .256 M Piazza dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294 M Ellis 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .261 D Johnson 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .238 M Scutaro 3b 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 .243 D Murphy ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .214 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Totals 8 6 5 6 1 2 0 BATTING: HR - M Scutaro (5, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 3 on, 2 Out), D Murphy (2, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ellis (49), M Scutaro 4 (22), D Murphy (8). 2-out RBI - M Ellis, M Scutaro 4, D Murphy. Team LOB - 0. TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .244 R Vazquez 3b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .250 M Young ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 S Sosa dh 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .242 M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176 J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 BATTING: Team LOB - 0. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 6 -- 6 TEXAS - -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5.28 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Rheinecker 1 5 6 6 1 2 2 8.64 Pitches-strikes: J Rheinecker 30-18. Ground balls-fly balls: J Rheinecker 1-0. Batters faced: J Rheinecker 9. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Miller. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Ed Montague. Weather: 92 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL OAKLAND AT TEXAS NOTE: THE HOME RUN'S BY OAKLAND'S MARCO SCUTARO AND DONNIE MURPHY WERE HIT BACK-TO-BACK.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS CONFIRMED STARTERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 6 6 5 0 TEXAS 0 0 0 0 (TOP 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: T BUCK (.281, 0-FOR-1) S STEWART (.300, 0-FOR-1) N SWISHER (.256, 1-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">OAKLAND (6) VS TEXAS (0) - END 1ST - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck rf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .281 S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .300 N Swisher cf 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .256 M Piazza dh 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 .294 M Ellis 2b 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .261 D Johnson 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .238 M Scutaro 3b 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 .243 D Murphy ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .214 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Totals 8 6 5 6 1 2 0 BATTING: HR - M Scutaro (5, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 3 on, 2 Out), D Murphy (2, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ellis (49), M Scutaro 4 (22), D Murphy (8). 2-out RBI - M Ellis, M Scutaro 4, D Murphy. Team LOB - 0. TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243 R Vazquez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249 M Young ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .241 M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176 J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 6 -- 6 TEXAS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 5.17 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Rheinecker 1 5 6 6 1 2 2 8.64 HBP - M Young (by D Braden). Pitches-strikes: D Braden 24-16; J Rheinecker 30-18. Ground balls-fly balls: D Braden 0-0; J Rheinecker 1-0. Batters faced: D Braden 4; J Rheinecker 9. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Miller. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Ed Montague. Weather: 92 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 6 0 6 6 0 TEXAS 0 0 0 0 (BOT 2) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER DUE UP FOR TEXAS: M BYRD (.318, 3 HR, 37 RBI) N CRUZ (.214, 6 HR, 20 RBI) J BOTTS (.176, 0 HR, 1 RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">OAKLAND (6) VS TEXAS (0) - MID 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .280 S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .300 N Swisher cf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .256 M Piazza dh 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .299 M Ellis 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .260 D Johnson 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .238 M Scutaro 3b 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 .243 D Murphy ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .214 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Totals 12 6 6 6 2 4 3 BATTING: HR - M Scutaro (5, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 3 on, 2 Out), D Murphy (2, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ellis (49), M Scutaro 4 (22), D Murphy (8). 2-out RBI - M Ellis, M Scutaro 4, D Murphy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1. Team LOB - 2. TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243 R Vazquez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249 M Young ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .241 M Byrd cf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .318 N Cruz rf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .214 J Botts lf 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .176 J Saltalamacchia 1b 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .143 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 3 0 0 0 0 3 1 BATTING: Team LOB - 1. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 60 -- 6 TEXAS - 0 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 5.17 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Rheinecker 2 6 6 6 2 4 2 8.15 HBP - M Young (by D Braden). Pitches-strikes: D Braden 24-16; J Rheinecker 54-32. Ground balls-fly balls: D Braden 0-0; J Rheinecker 2-0. Batters faced: D Braden 4; J Rheinecker 14. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Miller. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Ed Montague. Weather: 92 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 6 0 6 6 0 TEXAS 0 0 0 1 0 (TOP 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: D JOHNSON (.238, 0-FOR-0, BB) M SCUTARO (.243, 1-FOR-1, HR, 4 RBI) D MURPHY (.214, 1-FOR-1, HR, RBI)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">OAKLAND (6) VS TEXAS (0) - END 2ND - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .280 S Stewart lf 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 .300 N Swisher cf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .256 M Piazza dh 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .299 M Ellis 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .260 D Johnson 1b 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 .238 M Scutaro 3b 1 1 1 4 0 0 0 .243 D Murphy ss 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 .214 K Suzuki c 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .219 Totals 12 6 6 6 2 4 3 BATTING: HR - M Scutaro (5, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 3 on, 2 Out), D Murphy (2, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ellis (49), M Scutaro 4 (22), D Murphy (8). 2-out RBI - M Ellis, M Scutaro 4, D Murphy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1. Team LOB - 2. TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243 R Vazquez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249 M Young ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .241 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316 N Cruz rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .218 J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .167 J Saltalamacchia 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .136 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 4 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 60 -- 6 TEXAS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 5.06 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Rheinecker 2 6 6 6 2 4 2 8.15 HBP - M Young (by D Braden). Pitches-strikes: D Braden 37-25; J Rheinecker 54-32. Ground balls-fly balls: D Braden 0-2; J Rheinecker 2-0. Batters faced: D Braden 8; J Rheinecker 14. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Miller. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Ed Montague. Weather: 92 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL AT TEXAS - SCORING UPDATE KURT SUZUKI HIT INTO DOUBLE PLAY SCORING DAN JOHNSON. SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, M SCUTARO ON THIRD, 2 OUT CURRENT SCORE: OAKLAND 7 TEXAS 0 TOP, 3RD DUE UP FOR OAKLAND: T BUCK (.280, 0-FOR-2)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">AL 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E - - - - - - - - - - - - OAKLAND 6 0 1 7 8 0 TEXAS 0 0 0 1 0 (BOT 3) CURRENT PITCHERS: OAK - DALLAS BRADEN TEX - JOHN RHEINECKER DUE UP FOR TEXAS: G LAIRD (.238, 6 HR, 33 RBI) I KINSLER (.243, 0-FOR-1) R VAZQUEZ (.249, 0-FOR-1)</div>
AL: OAKLAND at TEXAS <div class="pre">OAKLAND (7) VS TEXAS (0) - MID 3RD - IN PROGRESS OAKLAND ab r h rbi bb so lob avg T Buck rf 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 .280 S Stewart lf 2 0 0 0 1 1 2 .299 N Swisher cf 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .256 M Piazza dh 2 1 2 0 0 0 0 .299 M Ellis 2b 2 1 1 1 0 0 2 .260 D Johnson 1b 1 2 1 0 1 0 0 .241 M Scutaro 3b 1 1 1 4 1 0 0 .243 D Murphy ss 2 1 2 1 0 0 0 .233 K Suzuki c 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 .216 Totals 16 7 8 6 3 4 6 BATTING: 2B - D Johnson (17, J Rheinecker). HR - M Scutaro (5, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 3 on, 2 Out), D Murphy (2, 1st inning off J Rheinecker 0 on, 2 Out). RBI - M Ellis (49), M Scutaro 4 (22), D Murphy (8). 2-out RBI - M Ellis, M Scutaro 4, D Murphy. Runners left in scoring position, 2 out - M Ellis 1, S Stewart 1. GIDP - K Suzuki. Team LOB - 4. TEXAS ab r h rbi bb so lob avg I Kinsler 2b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .243 R Vazquez 3b 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .249 M Young ss 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .301 S Sosa dh 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .241 M Byrd cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .316 N Cruz rf 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 .218 J Botts lf 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 .167 J Saltalamacchia 1b 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .136 G Laird c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .238 Totals 7 0 1 0 0 4 3 BATTING: Team LOB - 2. FIELDING: DP: 1 (M Young-I Kinsler-J Saltalamacchia). ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND - 601 -- 7 TEXAS - 00 -- 0 ---------------------------------------------------- OAKLAND ip h r er bb so hr era D Braden 2 1 0 0 0 4 0 5.06 TEXAS ip h r er bb so hr era J Rheinecker 3 8 7 7 3 4 2 8.20 HBP - M Young (by D Braden); T Buck (by J Rheinecker). Pitches-strikes: D Braden 37-25; J Rheinecker 70-40. Ground balls-fly balls: D Braden 0-2; J Rheinecker 5-0. Batters faced: D Braden 8; J Rheinecker 20. UMPIRES: HP--Bill Miller. 1B--Marvin Hudson. 2B--Chris Guccione. 3B--Ed Montague. Weather: 92 degrees, clear. Wind: 8 mph, right to left.</div>
