09/12/2008 - Oakland, CA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Dustin Nippert threw five-plus solid innings and Hank Blalock homered as part of a two-hit day, as the Texas Rangers downed Oakland, 6-1, in the first of four games with the Athletics.
Nippert (3-4) gave up one run on four hits and four walks, while striking out seven, to pick up the win. Jamey Wright tossed two perfect innings of relief for the Rangers, who have won three of five.
Joaquin Arias finished with two hits and two runs batted in, while Josh Hamilton added three hits and Chris Davis drove in a pair for Texas, which moved to 72-75 this season.
"That's the goal I'd like to shoot for is to finishing over .500," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "(I) just want everyone to keep pushing until there's no more games on the schedule."
Dallas Braden (5-4) took the loss after surrendering six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits and three walks with two strikeouts in four-plus innings.
"You take full responsibility for yourself when you go out and pitch," Braden said. "I mean you're trying to get deep into the ballgame and help yourself and help your team. Any added pressure on the bullpen or eight guys behind you is not necessary."
Cliff Pennington drove in the lone run for the A's, who had won four of five.
The Rangers grabbed the lead with a three-run second. Blalock and Gerald Laird each singled with one out, and after a pop up, Taylor Teagarden walked to load the bases.
Arias then smacked a two-run single to center, and another run scored when Eric Patterson committed an error.
In the top of the third, Nelson Cruz doubled with one out and scored with Davis doubled later in the inning for a 5-0 Texas lead.
Blalock led off the fifth with a homer to center to provide a six-run advantage for the visitors.
Nippert, meanwhile, navigated out of trouble for the first five innings but gave up a double to Jack Cust and single to Kurt Suzuki to begin the sixth. He was removed for Wright, who eventually gave up a sacrifice fly to Pennington but managed to limit the A's to that one run.
Bill White threw a 1-2-3 eighth, while Frank Francisco had a perfect ninth to end the game.
Game Notes
Teagarden finished 1-for-2 and walked twice...The Rangers left 11 runners on base and totaled 14 hits...Oakland stranded seven runners...Attendance was 10,566...Cust struck out three times to set a new Athletics franchise record for strikeouts in a season, with 176.
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With only 21 home runs standing between him and Hank Aaron, Barry Bonds is indeed planning on coming back for more in 2007. At least, that's what his agent told the Los Angeles Times.
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Contract negotiations could get started as early as next week. Let's see which team has the deeper pockets. Will MLB baseball betting lines despite allegations of steroid use? Bet On It at www.MySportsbook.com .
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