Baltimore @ Texas preview
Choctaw Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2010 ) Baltimore 7, Texas 6
Saturday will likely be Omar Beltre's final major-league start for a while.
After two stunning losses to open the series, the Texas Rangers hope it's a good one.
Beltre looks for his first career major-league win as the Rangers resume their four-game set with the surging Baltimore Orioles in Arlington. The Orioles won the opening two games of the series to clinch at least a split in what is the final action for both teams before heading into the All-Star break.
The Rangers made a bold move Friday to shore up their starting rotation, acquiring ace left-hander Cliff Lee from the Mariners in a six-player deal that sees first baseman Justin Smoak head to Seattle. Lee has been sensational so far this season, posting an 8-3 record with a 2.34 ERA.
Texas hopes the move will help them reach the postseason for the first time in 11 years. Yet, despite owning a 4 1/2-game lead in the AL West, the Rangers can't be satisfied with how they're playing - particularly against the major-league-worst Orioles.
Texas has held late leads in the first two games of the series, only to see the Orioles rally both times. Friday's loss was especially gut-wrenching for the Rangers, who led 6-2 in the ninth but imploded as Baltimore's Corey Patterson belted a grand slam off normally reliable Texas closer Neftali Feliz.
Jake Fox had a solo shot in the 10th inning to complete the Orioles comeback, moving them one step closer to earning their first road series win of the season. Baltimore has lost 14 straight series away from Camden Yards to open the season, and needs victories Saturday and Sunday to avoid going into the break with 60 losses.
Beltre (0-1) will try to end the Rangers' struggles Saturday. The 28-year-old rookie has looked shaky in two outings this season, allowing seven earned runs over seven innings while walking seven. He lasted just three innings in his last appearance, surrendering four runs on four hits in a 9-3 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
Beltre's time in the Rangers rotation was expected to be brief, and the acquisition of Lee likely means a trip back to the minors in the very near future.
Baltimore counters with struggling right-hander Chris Tillman (0-3).
The once-touted 22-year-old hasn't had much to be pleased about in his second major-league season, saddled with an 8.40 ERA as opponents are hitting a scoring .397 off him.
Tillman's last outing was a short one. He was charged with six runs on six hits over two innings as the Orioles were trounced 10-2 by the San Francisco Giants.
It wasn't even his shortest appearance of the season, after he went just 1 1/3 innings in a loss to the Boston Red Sox on June 4.
Tillman has made one career start against the Rangers. It came last Sept. 4, when he was touched for five runs on seven hits over six innings in a 5-1 loss.