Armed with the knowledge that the Angels have won and the Yankees have lost, the A's will try to stay hot on the road behind Joe Blanton (8-11, 3.51). The A's have scored only 17 runs in Blanton's last 6 starts (and just 1 run in his last 2). Remarkably, Blanton has now allowed 2 runs or fewer in 9 consecutive starts. The Rangers counter with right-hander Kameron Loe (8-4, 3.22). The A's have only seen Loe out of the bullpen, where he has surrendered runs in all 3 appearances (0-2, 10.80). However, Loe has allowed just 2 runs in 19 innings in his 3 starts since joining the rotation (3-0, 0.95).
Today's "fun fact": Huston Street has allowed 3 HRs this year, and each of the 3 has left the A's still ahead by one run. As "HRs given up by closers" go, that's pretty good timing.
The starting lineups:
Ellis
Kendall
Kotsay
Chavez
Payton
Hatteberg
Johnson
Swisher
Scutaro
Dellucci
Young
Teixeira
Blalock
Soriano
Mench
Gonzales
Matthews Jr.
Laird
