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Rangers try to complete sweep in Oakland

Sun 4th, May 2008

(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers are riding a four-game winning streak and are poised to complete a three-game road sweep of the Oakland Athletics at McAfee Coliseum.

Yesterday, A.J. Murray was efficient in a rare start, and David Murphy's three-run homer in the first inning jump-started a 6-3 Rangers' victory over the Athletics.

Making his first start of the season, Murray (1-0) scattered three runs -- two earned -- on six hits and two walks in 5 1/3 innings for the Rangers, who have won a season-high four straight and will be trying for their first three-game sweep i Oakland since May of 2005.

Joaquin Benoit anchored a scoreless bullpen effort en route to his first save of the season.

Each Ranger in the starting lineup had exactly one hit with Chris Shelton making his count with a solo home run. Michael Young and Josh Hamilton each plated a run for Texas.

Before the game, Hamilton picked up the American League Player of the Month award for April, posting a .330 batting average with an MLB-best 32 runs batted in. He also led the AL in total bases (68), hits (38), and extra base hits (17) in the span.

Chad Gaudin (3-2), who had won three straight starts, was given the loss after allowing five runs on eight hits and two walks in six innings for the A's.

Mike Sweeney finished with two hits and two RBI, and Bobby Crosby drove in Oakland's other tally.

Texas will give the ball to Scott Feldman today, as the righty takes over for the injured Jason Jennings in the rotation. Feldman actually threw 69 pitches on Tuesday against Kansas City after Jennings was forced to exit that game. Slated for just his second major league start, Feldman has permitted eight earned runs in three relief appearances.

Greg Smith will oppose Feldman for the A's. The Oakland lefty is 2-1 this season with a 2.73 ERA, but he is coming off a loss to the Angels on Tuesday in a game that saw him permit a mere two earned runs in eight innings of work. Clearly, a lack of run support was at the root of the setback.

Feldman has no record against Oakland, and Smith has never faced Texas.

Texas, which swept Oakland last September in Arlington, held a slight 10-9 edge over Oakland last year, but dropped six of 10 at McAfee Coliseum.

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