Game 157: Rangers vs. A's

Only 6 games remain for the Rangers this season - the last three home games and then the final three games of the season on the road against the Angels.
I wanted to start off with some good things, like Hamilton and Salty cards...
The Rangers send Millwood for tonight against Greg Smith. The Rangers lead the A's by 1/2 a game coming into this series. The Rangers need to win this series, most likely with a sweep, to make sure that the A's do not catch them for second place in the standings. And that is important, if for anything pride. The Rangers need to win therest of their games to finish at 500 for the season. A's also need to do that. Tonight, someone is going to clinch a losing record for the season.
Scouting Report:

A's: Smith entered his most recent start with the lowest run support in the Majors at 2.82 runs per nine innings. Despite seeing that number shrink, Smith was in line to beat the 2008 American League West champions until Mark Teixeira's two-run homer in the ninth inning gave the Angels a 2-1 lead that they lost in the bottom half of the frame. Less than a month after being tagged for 10 hits by the Angels in Anaheim, Smith held the Halos to four hits and a walk over six efficient innings Wednesday in Oakland. Smith, a rookie who leads the Majors with 15 pickoffs this season, is 0-2 with a 7.15 ERA in four starts against Texas this season.

Rangers: Millwood didn't get the victory his last time out, but he definitely pitched worthy of one for 5 1/3 innings. That was the span he went without allowing a single baserunner. Six of the 16 straight batters he retired were by way of strikeouts. However, he allowed a run in the first inning and three more in his seventh and final inning to put a damper on his outing. It's now been three starts since Millwood earned his last victory on Aug. 31. He'll try again Monday against the Athletics, whom he is 1-0 against in two starts this season with a 1.35 ERA.

I really can't add to much to this scouting report... it seems pretty solid to me. The A's have only grabbed a win three times in Smith's last 12 starts. Smith is 2-8 over that stretch. The A's are 2-2 when he starts for them against Texas this year.

Notable Rangers:

• Josh Hamilton: 3-12 with two doubles and two RBIs
• Milton Bradley: 2-7 with a double, a HR and three RBIs
• Brandon Boggs: 3-5 with a double, a HR and three RBIs

Millwood's ERA has been back on the climb over his last three starts, going from 4.84 up to the 5.15 ERA that it is now. Over that time, he has gone 0-2 with a 7.50 ERA, but has still averaged 6 innings a start. He has a 5.35 ERA at home this season with a 5-3 record.

Notable A's:

• Mark Ellis: 12-28 (.429 BA) with three doubles
• Emil Brown: 6-21 (.286 BA) with a double, a triple, a HR, and two RBIs
• Frank Thomas: 12-20 (.600 BA) with two doubles, two HRs, and six RBIs

Forecast: Second or Third. Second or Third. Who wants second more? This game will really tell everyone who is just that much more hungry for stature. Both teams have players who can hit the opposing pitcher. Millwood needs to get his ERA under the 5 mark. He could be on the trading block, but the question is if there is anybody willing to take him. Still, he has personal respect on the line. And because of all those particular intangibles, the Rangers will win. A big win. A needed win for personal respect. Score: 6-5.

Home Plate