Texas Rangers

Frank Francisco's scoreless streak ends

Adam Kennedy just homered to right off Francisco with one out in the ninth. Francisco had worked 18 scoreless innings this season without allowing a run and had a 0.00 ERA in 29 innings pitched dating back to last year. The Rangers now trail 5-4.

- Anthony Andro

The best news the Rangers have had all day

It looks like Dallas Braden has developed a blister and has been forced out. Colleague Jeff Wilson speculates that the blister formed as Braden had to throw pitches between innings to keep fresh because his pitch count (82) was so low. There are runners on first and second in the 4-0 game. If Oakland can escape without allowing a run, Braden will be at 11 scoreless innings against the Rangers this season.

- Anthony Andro

An odd quality start for Kevin Millwood

He's done after 116 pitches in six innings. The Rangers trail 2-0. Millwood even making it to six looked sketchy after four innings as he was at 85 pitches. But it's his seven quality starts in his 12 appearances this year. He's also on the hook for the loss as the Rangers have one hit in five innings against Dallas Braden, who has needed just 56 pitches.

- Anthony Andro

Making pitchers works

The Rangers are not even coming close to doing that on a 92 degree day at the Ballpark.  Dallas Braden has thrown 56 pitches in five innings. Kevin Millwood was at 85 through four innings after being at 55 through two. He got an easy fifth, needing just 10 pitches. But the sixth could be it for Millwood, who trails 1-0.

Anthony Andro

Today's lineups

The Rangers look to close May as the most successful month in club history. A 21-8 mark would leave them with a .724 winning percentage, eclipsing .677 mark the 1978 club had after a 21-10 September (I wonder if 31 games in a 30-day month is a club record).

The Rangers will go for a series sweep without Josh Hamilton in the lineup.

A's lineup

Orlando Cabrera, ss

Adam Kennedy, 2b

Jack Cust, dh

Matt Holliday, lf

Jason Giambi, 1b

Kurt Suzuki, c

Ryan Sweeney, cf

Aaron Cunningham, rf

Jack Hannahan, 3b

Rangers lineup

Ian Kinsler, 2b

Michael Young, 3b

Andruw Jones, dh

Nelson Cruz, rf

Hank Blalock, 1b

Marlon Byrd, cf

David Murphy, lf

Jarrod Saltalamacchia, c

Elvis Andrus, ss

-- Jeff Wilson

Ailing Josh Hamilton to have MRI

Josh Hamilton is scheduled to have an MRI Monday to see what's wrong with his midsection. Hamilton is out of the lineup today, but doesn't even want to talk about the possibility of going on the disabled list. "We'll know in the next couple of days," Hamilton said. "Right now I'm hurt and sore and can't run." The Rangers are hoping Hamilton can see a specialist today. Hamilton hasn't been right since returning from the disabled list because of a rib cage injury. He hurt his groin running into a wall, and has had soreness in his abdomonial area. Hamilton said in the last couple of days he's been swinging the bat at about 75 percent and running at 50 percent.

General manager Jon Daniels just confirmed that the specialist Hamilton is seeing John Preskitt, who diagnosed Ian Kinsler's hernia last year. Daniels said he's seeing the specialist to rule out a hernia.

- Anthony Andro

Guillermo Moscoso talks about his debut

Lost in all the offense was the big-league debut for Texas right-hander Guillermo Moscoso. He pitched the ninth, allowing two hits and striking out one. He got a double-play grounder to end the game. "I was ready to go today," said Moscoso, who was calle up from Frisco Friday. "I was nervous the first pitch. After the first pitch, I said 'Let's go get it. Focus and get the ball down.'''

- Anthony Andro

A breakthrough for Josh Hamilton

Josh Hamilton's two-run single in the third inning marked the first time since May 16 that the All-Star outfielder has had a multi-RBI game. Hamilton now has 24 RBI after his 1 for 5 game and is hitting .234. Despite the low average, Hamilton feels good about his approach at the plate. "I feel good at the plate," he said. "I'm putting the ball in play and not looking terrible up there. I feel good. My approach feels good."

Hamilton believes he's also starting to catch some breaks. Friday night he had a double that drew chalk down the left-field line. Saturday his two-run single just scooted by Oakland second baseman Adam Kennedy.

"I'm back to where I was last year," said Hamilton, who opened the season with a new hitting stance but has gone back to last year's approach. "As soon as I started doing it, I felt like I was back to where I was. The thing for me is always pitch recognition and not be too aggressive at the plate because I want to make things happen so much."

Hamilton said he's working on being more selective at the plate. He has just nine walks this season.

- Anthony Andro

Guillermo Moscoso debuts in 14-1 win

The right-handed reliever came on in the ninth against Oakland in his major league debut. Moscoso, who was called up Friday, allowed a hit to Jason Giambi on the first pitch he threw, but came back to strike out Landon Powell for his first big league strikeout. After another hit, he got a double-play ball to end the game.

- Anthony Andro

What tonight's win will do for Texas history

Assuming the Rangers can hang on to the 10-1 lead, they will go to to 11 games over .500 for the first time since the end of the 2004 season. It will also mark just the second time in club history that they've won 20 games in a month. The first came in September of 1978, when they went 21-10. They can match that with a win Sunday.

- Anthony