Texas @ Cleveland preview
Progressive Field
Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2012 ) Texas 3, Cleveland 4
With the red-hot Oakland Athletics bearing down on them, the Texas Rangers can ill afford to have a poor inning - let alone game. After being done in by a four-run first inning in their last encounter, the visiting Rangers will look to rebound on Sunday when they play the rubber match of their three-game series with the slumping Cleveland Indians. Manager Ron Washington's club saw its lead in the American League West dip to three games with a 4-3 setback on Saturday. The loss was Texas' fourth loss in 14 games.
After matching the team record for losses in a month with 24 in August, Cleveland did its best to start September with a flourish. Carlos Santana highlighted the first inning with a two-run single and the bullpen worked 3 1/3 scoreless frames to preserve the victory. The Indians are vying for their first series win since taking two of three from Detroit on July 24-26.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, FSH (Texas), STO (Cleveland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Derek Holland (9-6, 4.90 ERA) vs. Indians RH Zach McAllister (5-5, 3.82)
Holland recorded his second win in a row despite yielding five runs for the second time in three outings. The 25-year-old Ohio native owns a 2-0 career mark versus Cleveland, although he settled for a no-decision after a strong start on May 5. Holland permitted two runs on five hits in 7 1/3 innings in that encounter.
McAllister suffered his fourth loss in five decisions after yielding five runs in 4 1/3 innings against Oakland last Sunday. The 24-year-old matched a season-high with eight strikeouts, but was done in by a pair of homers. McAllister has yet to face Texas in his brief career.
WALK-OFFS
1. Indians SS Asdrubal Cabrera sat out Saturday's tilt with a sore right wrist. Mired in a pronounced 2-for-31 slump, Cabrera is 4-for-12 with a double in his career against Holland.
2. Rangers SS Elvis Andrus went 1-for-4 on Saturday to extend his hitting streak to 28 games versus the Indians.
3. Santana has collected a homer and double among his four career hits versus Holland.