Texas Rangers (52-50) at Oakland Athletics (52-49), 10:05 p.m.

The Sports Network A battle for second place in the American League West begins tonight at Oakland's McAfee Coliseum, where the Athletics take on the hard-hitting Texas Rangers in the first of three consecutive clashes. The A's and Rangers are currently separated by only a half-game in the division standings, although both teams are well behind the front-running Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Oakland occupies second place for the time being with a 52-49 record, but is 10 games in back of the Angels in the race for the top spot. Texas has had the upper hand in this year's season series, though. The Rangers have won six of nine matchups with the Athletics in 2008 and took two of three tests at the Coliseum in early May. That string of success could continue if Vicente Padilla duplicates his most recent performance in tonight's... [read full story]