Open Thread: Game 34 - Oakland Athletics at Texas Rangers

Well, after the FIRST PLACE Athletics fought tooth and nail through three blown saves and other assorted frustrations last night to grind out a win in the first game of the series, they have to turn around and do it again tonight. Gio Gonzalez will take the mound tonight against the Rangers; he will be trying to keep the A's modest winning streak alive. LHP Derek Holland, fresh off his rookie season, will take the big-league mound, coming off six excellent starts at AAA.

He will face an...um...interesting A's lineup. Powell will be behind the plate, but Donaldson will be DH'ing, and Fox will be your starting left-fielder. Rosales, despite being hit in the face during BP today, will be batting second, behind Pennington, in an obvious right-handed-heavy lineup against the lefty Holland.

Suzuki will not be joining the club in Texas; he has suffered a setback and won't play until this weekend at the earliest, but both Ellis and Coco Crisp (who I can't believe hasn't started a game for us yet!), will be playing in Stockton next week (single-A).

And for those of you who are local; the A's are about to announce a new promotion:

#Athletics announce "The Perfect Homestand" promotion. Plaza level tix for Monday are $2.09, as in the area code for Braden's hometown.

Lineups are up; we are ready to go!

LET'S GO OAK-LAND!