Texas Rangers (54-50) at Oakland Athletics (52-51), 4:05 p.m.

Tag : Lead Wires
By Sports Network The Sports Network
Eric Hurley will make his return to the mound this afternoon, as hewill try to lead the Texas Rangers to victory over the OaklandAthletics in the finale of a three-game stint at McAfee Coliseum.
Hurley, who was called up to the big club in the middle of June,has been dealing with arm and shoulder issues and has not toed therubber since June 29th.
Before Hurley made a trip to the DL, the young right-hander was 1-1in four starts with a 3.57 ERA. The last time Hurley took the hillhe squared off against the Philadelphia Phillies, allowing just onerun on five hits and two walks in 5 2/3 innings of work. TheRangers went on to collect a 5-1 victory, giving Hurley his firstbig league win.
Taking the mound for Oakland will be Dana Eveland, who will try tosnap a personal two-game skid. After winning three of his previousfive outings, Eveland has dropped two straight, including a 4-0setback to Tampa Bay this past Monday.
In the setback to the Rays the southpaw lasted just five innings,allowing four runs on seven hits and four walks.
There is no question that Eveland prefers to pitch on his homefield, as the 24-year-old has collected five of his seven victoriesat the Coliseum. In 11 home starts, Eveland has held the oppositionto a mere .245 batting average and is currently boasting an ERA of3.06.
Yesterday, Josh Hamilton's three-run shot was one of Texas' threehomers, as the Rangers slugged their way past the Athletics.
Matt Harrison (2-1) yielded three runs -- one earned -- on fivehits and three walks in five innings of work to earn the victory.Josh Rupe pitched three scoreless innings in relief for Texas,which has won two in a row.
The Rangers also got home runs from Marlon Byrd and Chris Davis,both solo shots, while Jarrod Saltalamacchia was 2-for-3 with adouble and two runs batted in.
Justin Duchscherer (10-7) was tagged for eight runs on nine hitsand two walks, while striking out six, in six-plus innings for theA's.
Emil Brown and Mark Ellis each homered for Oakland, which has lostthree consecutive games and nine of 10.
Since the beginning of the 2006 season the Rangers hold a slight28-21 edge over the Athletics.