Keep This Going, Guys! Series vs. Texas

[Nanner]

BE STRONG! BE TOUGH! BE OFFENSIVE!!!:D

:jump: :gt: :jump: :gt:



05/29/2003 12:33 AM ET
O's welcome Raffy and the Rangers
Texas (24-27) at Baltimore (25-26), 7:05 p.m. ET
By Gary Washburn / MLB.com

The Orioles offense has been blazing of late and it runs into one of the more prolific offensive clubs in the league in the Texas Rangers. The Rangers feature former Oriole Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez, Carl Everett and Hank Blalock.
It should be an interesting matchup between Blalock, one of the American League's leading hitters, and Melvin Mora, who just took the Major League lead in hitting with a 3-for-3 night on Wednesday. Mora is hitting .359, including .548 during his 10-game hitting streak.

The Orioles have scored 58 runs in their past seven games and have nine straight games with at least 10 hits. They have won four straight games and took two of three last weekend in Arlington.

The Orioles play a four-game series with Texas and then head to Houston for the beginning of Interleague play.

Pitching matchup:

BAL: RHP Pat Hentgen
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/115797.jpg
1-1, 4.10 in 2003
0-1, 6.00 in 2003 vs. TEX
6-8, 5.70 lifetime vs. TEX

TEX: RHP Ismael Valdes
http://baltimore.orioles.mlb.com/images/gameday/mugshots/123595.jpg
4-2, 5.26 in 2003
1-0, 4.50 in 2003 vs. BAL
2-1, 2.84 lifetime vs. BAL

Players to watch: Reliever B.J. Ryan continues to struggle, including Wednesday when he walked two of three batters faced. How long will the team put up with his ineffectiveness?

Quotable: "Brian is playing a lot less tentative. He understands his game and how it relates to the big league game now," --Orioles manager Mike Hargrove on second baseman Brian Roberts

On the Internet:
MLB.TV
Gameday Audio


Gameday
On television:

Orioles: Comcast SportsNet
Rangers: Fox Sports Net
On radio:

Orioles: WBAL 1090
Rangers: KRLD

Quick hits:
The Orioles have reached double-digits in hits in each of their past nine games to increase the team average 22 points to .273. ... Jason Johnson earned his first win since April 29. The Orioles have won seven of Johnson's 11 starts. ... Luis Matos has hit in all five games he has played. ... Rick Bauer pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings Wednesday. ... Deivi Cruz hit his fifth home run of the season, off Ramon Ortiz.

On-deck:

Thursday vs. Texas, 7:05 p.m.
Friday vs. Texas, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday vs. Texas, 7:05 p.m.
Sunday vs. Texas, 1:35 p.m.
Tuesday at Houston, 8:05 p.m.
Wednesday at Houston, 8:05 p.m.
June 5 at Houston, 8:05 p.m.
Gary Washburn is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

[MarylandMan]

This is gonna be a hard series, but it should be a good one too. I am going on Friday, hoping to see a great win, and if we continue our offensive explosion there's no way we can lose. But it's important we score runs, because our staff won't be able to contain Texas, really.

[Nanner]

MM, your foresight is remarkable. :( The O's offense rested last night, and the Rangers really hit Pat Hentgen hard, it seemed. But he has been inconsistent. And he really had no control last night from what I read.

:(

Bummer.

Final score, Game 1 of the series: 8-4, Rangers.

:banghead

[MarylandMan]

True, Hentgen looked awful last night. No control whatsoever, and we won't beat the Rangers with 4 runs at Camden Yards. A disappointing game, to be sure, but hopefully an anomaly. Tonight, Omar was really on. He went eight strong innings, and the only run he gave up was a solo homer to Juan Gonzalez. What an awesome time I had at the Yard! Conine was crrrazy, just when I think we should trade him, he does something like this. I seriously think we could contend this year, as ridiculous as that may sound. I just love this team.