Kazmir goes for A's in rubber match with Rangers
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(SportsNetwork.com) - Scott Kazmir continues his career resurgence on Wednesday when he takes the hill for the Oakland Athletics in the finale of a three-game series with the Texas Rangers at the Coliseum.
Kazmir went 15-9 last season in his first year with the A's and pitched to a a 3.55 ERA over 32 starts, his most since 2007, and earned an All-Star nod along the way. His 190 1/3 innings were also his most in seven seasons.
The left-hander has done nothing this spring to suggest that another terrific season isn't in the offering, as he pitched to a 1.00 ERA in his four outings.
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"In the past, I've had one or two pitches really working and other stuff I'm still working on," Kazmir said after his final Cactus League appearance. "This spring, I felt like out of the gates, I had a good feel for everything."
Texas, meanwhile, will hand the ball to one of its few offseason additions in lefty Ross Detwiler, who was acquired from Washington for a pair of minor leaguers.
After missing most of the 2013 season because of back issues, Detwiler went 2-3 with a 4.00 ERA in 47 relief appearances for the Nationals last season. However, he's been a starter for most of his career and 69 of his 85 appearances have been starts.
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Texas evened this series at a game apiece on Tuesday, as Prince Fielder went 2-for-3 and drove in two runs, and Neftali Feliz shut the door in the bottom of the ninth inning in the Rangers' 3-1 win.
Colby Lewis (1-0) got the start for Texas and pitched six innings, giving up three hits and a run with four strikeouts.
"It felt good," Fielder said. "It was a lot of fun getting that first win and getting (Texas manager Jeff Bannister) his first win."
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Eric Sogard recorded the only RBI of the game for Oakland, which nearly no-hit the Rangers on Monday in an 8-0 rout.
Jesse Hahn (0-1) was tagged with the loss after lasting six innings, giving up seven hits with three runs and three strikeouts.
"I thought he pitched well; he didn't walk anybody," Athletics manager Bob Melvin said. "He was throwing strikes."
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Texas was 10-9 versus the A's last season.