Oakland's Justin Duchscherer flirted with history in his last start, and with the way his team has been hitting recently, he might need a similar performance to get another win.
In his first season as a full-time starter, Duchscherer looks to build on the most impressive outing of his career on Friday as the Athletics open a three-game series with Texas at Rangers Ballpark.Duchscherer (4-3, 2.16 ERA) took a perfect game into the sixth inning and a no-hitter into the seventh on Saturday against Boston. He ended up allowing just one hit in eight innings of a 3-0 win, ending a two-start losing streak.
"That was as well of a pitched game as I've seen," Oakland manager Bob Geren told the team's official Web site. "When you've got such a well-potent offense like Boston, it makes it that much more special."
Duchscherer did not walk a batter and did not allow a home run for the sixth time in seven starts.
"He was incredible," teammate Mark Ellis said Saturday. "He can throw the ball wherever he wants to throw it."
Duchscherer had made just five starts before moving into the rotation this season, but has not given up more than three earned runs in any of his seven starts in 2008. He is just 1-3 in four road outings despite a 2.91 ERA.
The right-hander started his major league career with Texas, going 1-1 with a 12.27 ERA in five outings - two starts - for the Rangers in 2001. He has made 23 career appearances - but just one start, in 2003 - against his former team, going 3-1 with a 3.94 ERA and four saves in four chances.
Oakland (29-25) could use another strong outing from Duchscherer. The A's were pounded 12-0 by Toronto on Thursday for their sixth shutout loss of the season, and they were held to four runs in that three-game series.
However, Oakland did get some good news on Thursday, as Eric Chavez was activated from the 60-day disabled list several days ahead of schedule. He went 0-for-4 in his season debut after waking up at 4 a.m. to fly from Portland to the Bay Area.
Chavez, the six-time Gold Glove third baseman, was used at designated hitter after Frank Thomas was placed on the DL with knee and quadriceps injuries. Geren said Chavez will be back at third on Friday, but will likely see more time at DH.
"We feel like he's ready," Geren said. "It's a day where you lose Frank and you add him. It's great to see him back. We're going to miss Frank but with him in the middle of the lineup it's going to help."
The Rangers (27-28) also made a roster move on Thursday, activating No. 1 starter Kevin Millwood (2-3, 4.88) from the disabled list leading up to his start in the series opener. Millwood left his last start on May 10, also against Oakland, after recording just two outs because of a strained right groin and was placed on the DL a day later.
"My body feels good," Millwood told the Rangers' official Web site. "I feel like I am ready to go out and pitch."
Millwood is 3-3 with a 4.29 ERA in 11 career starts against Oakland. However, since winning his first three starts versus the A's, he is 0-3 with a 5.97 ERA in eight starts against them.
The Rangers dropped two of three against AL East-leading Tampa Bay this week, capped by Wednesday's 5-3 defeat. Texas had gone 8-0-1 in its previous nine series, its longest such undefeated stretch since it was 7-0-3 from March 31-April 30, 1998.
Rangers pitchers walked nine and yielded seven hits Wednesday, while the offense failed to top three runs for the fourth time in five games.
