Tampa Bay Rays (44-38) At Texas Rangers (44-35), 8:05 P.m.
(Sports Network) - The red-hot Texas Rangers will try to collect a three-game sweep over the Tampa Bay Rays when the two teams collide this evening in Arlington. The Rangers will send Scott Feldman to the hill, who is coming off a solid performance against the Angels. In the 9-5 win over Anaheim, the right-hander held the Angels to just three runs on six hits in six innings of work. The victory snapped a four-game winless streak for Feldman, and boosted his ledger to 6-2 on the season. The 26-year-old has made five appearances against the Rays, but only one of those outings was as a starter. In 12 innings of work against Tampa, he has allowed four runs on 10 hits, but was able to strike out six batters. As for the Rays they will try to jump on the shoulders of Matt Garza, who has won his last two starts. In his last outing the right-hander overpowered Toronto, holding the Blue Jays to just one run on seven hits in seven innings of work. Garza has been impressive against Texas in four career starts, posting a 3-1 mark with an outstanding 1.98 earned run average. Last night, Andruw Jones' three-run homer in the first inning set the tone, as Texas went on to dismantle young David Price and the Rays, 12-4. Jones doubled in another run and Michael Young added a three-run double in the second inning for the Rangers, who have strung together four straight wins. Taylor Teagarden and Nelson Cruz each had two RBI, while David Murphy finished a home run shy of the cycle. Derek Holland (2-5) gave up four runs on seven hits in six innings of work. "We had an offensive explosion," said Texas manager Ron Washington. "Jones led the way with three runs in the first inning. It was definitely a team effort." Dioner Navarro clubbed a three-run homer and Jason Bartlett also went deep for Tampa Bay, which has dropped three in a row on the heels of a season-high, seven-game win streak. Price (2-3) couldn't make it out of the second inning, surrendering six runs on three hits and five walks while recording just four outs. The former No. 1 overall pick saw his earned run average balloon from 3.93 to 5.21. "I let us down. I've got to be able to get back out there with that mindset and that attitude that I know I belong," Price said. Lance Cormier was charged with three runs in three innings of relief. The Rays won six of nine matchups with Texas a year ago, including four of six tilts held in Arlington. A win tonight would give the Rangers their first three-game sweep of the Rays since turning the trick from April 21-23 in Arlington.
Copyright 2009 Courtesy of The Sports Network.









