Major League Baseball

Bats remain quiet

Published Oct. 13, 2010 10:05 p.m. ET

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OAKLAND, Calif. - Good thing the Rangers worked hard to get Fox TV to permit the broadcast of Saturday's game, because the AL West won't be clinched before then.

It's uncertain, however, if the Rangers offense will show up on the broadcast. Nobody has seen it for days. It was absent again Thursday in a 5-0, one-hit loss to Oakland that allowed the A's to keep hoping for a miracle comeback in the AL West race.

The Rangers' magic number held at four; the lead in the West was reduced to seven games with 10 to play.

The Rangers are 2-5 on the 10-game trip that wraps up the road portion of the season. They've scored two or fewer runs in five games and just two runs over the last three. One of those runs scored without the benefit of a hit, and the other scored on a passed ball.

Thursday, the Rangers couldn't even say A's starter Dallas Braden was the best he's been all year. Braden did allow a first-inning infield single to Nelson Cruz. That's one more hit than he allowed in a Mother's Day perfect game performance against Tampa Bay.

Braden gave way to Brad Ziegler for the ninth, falling just short of becoming the first pitcher since Hideo Nomo in 2001 to have a no-hitter and a one-hitter in the same season.

When Josh Hamilton went out with fractured ribs on Sept. 4, it was expected the Rangers offense would suffer, but the club managed to cobble together a seven-game winning streak that culminated with a pair of 11-run games against Detroit last week.

A deep slump, however, has overtaken the team on the road. The team is hitting just .199 during the road trip and has scored just 14 runs.

On Thursday, there was no magic cure for the offense. And because of it, no reduction in the magic number.

More progress: Hamilton continues to make strides in his bid to return to the lineup. Hamilton rode on a stationary bike Thursday and pumped his arms in a running motion.

The biggest positive to come from that was the fact that Hamilton was able to breathe fine.

"Today's the first day I really got my breath going," he said. "I was out of breath, and I didn't feel bad. I've still got some popping going, but the shots seem to help with the pain factor."

Hamilton also continues to work to strengthen his core. The back specialist Hamilton saw - Dr. Robert Watkins - said once Hamilton can do those exercises along with twisting, then he should be OK to resume baseball activities.

He still hopes to be ready for the final regular-season series against Los Angeles.

Milestone for Mike: Third baseman Michael Young played in his 1,500th game for the Rangers on Thursday night. That puts Young in elite company, as he's only the fourth player to appear in 1,500 games for Texas.

He joins Rafael Palmeiro, Jim Sundberg and Ivan Rodriguez. All three passed that mark in their second stint with the club.

Young is just one of seven active players to have played 1,500 games with one team. New York's Derek Jeter is the leader with 2,287.

Anthony Andro contributed to this report.

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