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When playing a 4-game series against the Houston Astros, the difference between winning 3 out of 4 or splitting the series is roughly the difference between "hey, it was a good series" and having a persistent desire to commit unspeakable acts on defenseless puppies and kittens.
It is thusly that Tommy Milone puts the good of the animal kingdom on his shoulders in search of his first win. Milone is opposed by RHP Collin McHugh, whose 0-8 career record and 8.00+ career ERA did a lousy job of foreshadowing his start in Seattle last Tuesday: 5⅔ IP, 3 hits, 0 runs, 0 BB, 12 K.
Because Felix Hernandez is a secret agent for the Texas Rangers and against humanity, the A's begin play today only tied for 1st place in the AL West. Today's "fun fact": Josh Reddick's season line is a suddenly respectable(ish) .232/.303, thanks to a .429/.448/.643 slash line over his last 10 games. April stats are fun!
The Sunday lineups:
