American League Preview from The Sports Network
Wednesday, May 2nd
(All times Eastern)
Texas Rangers (17-7) at Toronto Blue Jays (13-11), 12:37 p.m.
Probable Starting Pitchers: Texas - Matt Harrison (3-1, 3,37)
Toronto - Ricky Romero (3-0, 3.18)
(Sports Network) - Ricky Romero puts his unblemished record on the line this
afternoon when the Toronto Blue Jays try to hand the Texas Rangers their
second straight series loss in the finale of a three-game set at Rogers
Centre.
Toronto won in thrilling fashion on Tuesday, as Brett Lawrie lined Mike Adams'
full-count slider over the wall in left-center field in the bottom of the
ninth inning to break a tie and give the Blue Jays an 8-7 victory
"I was just locked in," said Lawrie. "Those are the [at-bats] that you get
pumped up for, and you've just got to be ready to go."
Kelly Johnson and Jose Bautista hit back-to-back homers to help Toronto climb
out of an early 5-0 hole and Johnson finished with four runs batted in for the
Blue Jays, who have won three of four and bounced back from a 4-1 loss in the
opener.
Francisco Cordero (1-1) allowed a run in the ninth to record his second blown
save of the season but got the win.
Ian Kinsler knocked in three runs and scored twice in the losing effort. The
Rangers had won a team record six straight series to start the season before
losing two of three to Tampa Bay over the weekend. They also haven't lost two
straight games this season.
And they'll likely be without slugger Josh Hamilton for the third straight
game because of a sore back. Rangers manager Ron Washington has stated that he
won't return until he is 100 percent.
Now, they face Romero, who has given the Rangers fits over his career, posting
a 2-1 mark against them, while allowing just three runs and striking out 24 in
29 1 /3 innings.
Romero has followed up his All-Star campaign from a year ago with a strong
start to this season, going 3-0 with a 3.18 ERA in five starts. He did not get
a decision his last time out against Seattle, but pitched well in allowing
just two earned runs in 6 2/3 innings. He did walk three batters and has
issued 13 free passes in 34 innings this season.
Still, it was his fourth straight quality start since his Opening Day no-
decision in Cleveland.
"That's my goal every time I take the mound is just to go out there and try to
get as deep as possible," Romero said.
Romero's also 6-0 with a 2.78 ERA in 10 home starts dating to a 4-1 loss to
the New York Yankees on July 16.
Texas, meanwhile, will counter with lefty Matt Harrison, who was banged around
in his first loss of the season on Friday to the Rays. Harrison gave up seven
runs (six earned) and 14 hits in only five innings of that one, as he fell to
3-1 and more than doubled his ERA to 3.37.
"It just seemed like tonight that they had my number," said Harrison, who had
allowed just four runs through his first three starts. "And some of the
hitters, every fastball I threw, they were right on top of it."
It may not get any better today, as Harrison has surrendered 16 runs in 14 2/3
innings to the Blue Jays.
The Blue Jays were 6-4 versus the Rangers last season.
05/02 10:34:18 ET

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