(Best E Casino) - The Oakland Athletics will attempt to halt a four-game losing skid and avoid a three-game sweep to the Texas Rangers as the teams close out a series this afternoon in Arlington.

On Saturday, Josh Hamilton homered and drove in three runs as the Rangers pounded out 14 hits en route to an 8-4 win over the Athletics.

Ian Kinsler went 3-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in for the Rangers, who have won three of their last four games. Michael Young and Frank Catalanotto each went 3-for-4, drove in a run and scored twice, while Gerald Laird collected two hits and scored two runs.

Young and Kinsler both extended their hit streaks to 16 games on Saturday, while Hamilton's three RBI gives him 61 for the season, making him the first major leaguer to eclipse 60 in 2008.

Sidney Ponson (4-1) earned the win after allowing four runs on nine hits over seven innings, striking out four without issuing a walk.

Travis Buck and Jack Hannahan drove in two runs each for the slumping A's. Eric Chavez went 3-for-4 with a double and a run scored in the setback. Oakland has now dropped 11 of its last 14 away from home.

Joe Blanton (3-7) took the loss after being rocked for six runs on 10 hits in six innings.

Before the game, the Rangers announced that pitcher Jason Jennings will be out for the remainder of the season after undergoing flexor tendon surgery on his right forearm Friday in Dallas.

Oakland pins its hopes on the left arm of Greg Smith today. While Smith is a game below .500 at 3-4 this season, his 2.84 ERA suggests that he has pitched extremely well.

In his most recent start, Smith pitched 6 2/3 shutout innings en route to a victory over Toronto on Tuesday. The rookie has already faced Texas twice this season and is 0-1 with a 3.75 ERA.

Scott Feldman is expected to get the ball for Texas this afternoon, and he is 1-2 with a 4.57 ERA this season. The righty's last appearance came on May 24, when took the mound against Cleveland on the road and was touched up for five earned runs on six hits in six innings of action.

Feldman owns a 1-1 career record against the A's with a 1.96 ERA.

The Rangers, who are playing the third test of what will be 10 straight games at home, have won six of eight versus Oakland this year and took two of three matchups from the Athletics in Arlington in early May.