Greg Smith and Scott Feldman match up for the second time in less than a week this evening as the A's open a three-game series in Texas at 5:05 Pacific.
On May 4, in the second start of his big-league career, the 25-year-old Feldman pitched well against the A's, holding them scoreless for six innings before getting touched up and pulled in the seventh. His counterpart Smith, making his sixth major league start that day, pitched one of the best games by an A's starter this season - 10 K's, 2 walks, and 3 measly hits scattered over six dominating innings as the A's won 3-1.
One key to tonight's game will be Smith's performance against the heart of the Rangers' order - Hamilton, Bradley and Murphy. Last week Smith absolutely dominated the trio, striking them out a combined eight times and holding them hitless. You can bet that Milton will be looking to avenge last week's performance, which was just the second golden sombrero of his major league career.
As per Friday night ritual, interesting facts about tonight's opposing SP, Scott Feldman:
(1) He was born in Kailua, Hawaii. (2) He attended Burlingame High School and dominated the Penninsula Athletic League as a hitter, before starring at College of San Mateo as a pitcher. (3) He sparked a bench-clearing brawl against the Angels two years ago with a retaliatory plunking of Adam Kennedy, earning him a six-game suspension. (4) He is Jewish. (5) He's a sidearming righty with a low-90s fastball, hard slider and changeup.
Let's go A's!
