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Final-10 2 3   4 5 6   7 8 9   10 R H E Oakland 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 5 12 2 Texas 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 10 0

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  W: R. Cook (1-0)   L: M. Adams (0-2)   S: B. Fuentes (3)

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Athletics-Rangers Preview

By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO

(AP) -- Oakland right-hander Brandon McCarthy took to Twitter last week wondering how to get Josh Hamilton out. Now that it seems that chance is here, he may not have to.

Texas manager Ron Washington is planning to give Hamilton a day off soon, potentially as soon as Thursday against McCarthy and the visiting A's in the midst of the Rangers center fielder's 16-game hitting streak.

McCarthy (3-3, 2.56 ERA), known around the majors as one of the game's most active and engaging tweeters, playfully asked "Siri, how do you get Josh Hamilton out?" on the social media website May 12, referencing the iPhone's intelligent personal assistant.

That came after Hamilton homered for the ninth time in six games, and while he hasn't gone deep since, he's hardly slowing down at the plate. Hamilton collected two hits to extend his hitting streak Wednesday as the Rangers (24-14) beat Oakland 4-1.

The 2010 AL MVP has made a habit of feasting on A's pitching, especially at Rangers Ballpark. He owns a .373 average with six homers and 28 RBIs in 29 career meetings there.

Hamilton, though, is due for a day off after Washington has rested at least one regular member of the lineup in each of the last three days. He opted to give Michael Young the day off Wednesday, and knows Hamilton's turn is coming.

"One more guy, then I've done everyone," Washington said.

He may want to wait on that since Hamilton is hitting .424 with 10 homers and 26 RBIs during his streak.

"I said in spring training, we are going to go only as far as the guys we're resting right now will take us," Washington told the team's official website. "If we don't take care of them, they won't take care of us. If they are out for a period of time, we're in trouble.

"If I don't do what I feel I have to do, I'm not doing my job."

Should Hamilton find himself in the lineup, he might be just as curious how to solve McCarthy. The righty has a 1.31 ERA.during his three-game winning streak.

He turned in his best performance of the season Saturday, matching his career high with 10 strikeouts during seven scoreless innings in a 3-1 win over Detroit.

McCarthy, a member of the Rangers from 2007-09, is 1-4 with a 4.06 ERA in nine games - seven starts - against his former club.

He'll have a tough task figuring out how to end the A's struggles in this series. Texas has won 13 of the last 15 meetings with Oakland (19-19), going 8-1 at home.

Elvis Andrus, who was rested with Nelson Cruz earlier this week, is also on a roll. The shortstop is batting .422 with six doubles, nine RBIs and 12 runs in 16 games after getting two hits Wednesday.

Washington is scheduled to give the ball to Matt Harrison (4-3, 5.23), who has an 8.86 ERA while losing three of his last four starts. The left-hander gave up four runs in six innings of a 4-2 defeat to Los Angeles on Saturday.

He's 4-1 with a 2.86 ERA in six starts against the A's, though, winning both at home while allowing two runs with 14 strikeouts in 13 2-3 innings.

Harrison might be in line for another strong outing against Oakland in Arlington. The A's are hitting .156 in their last four games, scoring one run or fewer in each of three losses.

Jemile Weeks is doing his part to help, going 10 for 29 with two doubles and five runs in his last eight games. The second baseman had half of the team's four hits Wednesday, and owns a .358 average in 13 meetings with the Rangers.

Updated May 17, 2012