Rangers at Tigers
After watching their eight-game winning streak come to an end, the Texas Rangers will attempt to return to their triumphant ways when they wrap up a four-game series versus the host Detroit Tigers on Sunday. Texas benefited from an eight-run first inning to post a 10-4 victory in the opener of Saturday's doubleheader, but dropped a 3-2 decision in the nightcap.
Texas' vaunted rotation suffered its first loss in 11 decisions this season when Neftali Feliz fell to Justin Verlander. The setback was also the Rangers' first in eight road games.
TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, TBS, FS Southwest (Texas), FS Detroit
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers RH Colby Lewis (2-0, 1.83 ERA) vs. Tigers LH Drew Smyly (0-0, 0.90 ERA)
After surrendering a league-leading 35 homers last season, Lewis has allowed only two in his first three starts to 2012. Staked to an offensive explosion in his last time out, Lewis was barely tested in seven innings of work as the Rangers recorded an 18-3 trouncing of the Boston Red Sox on Tuesday. Lewis has split his four career decisions versus the Tigers.
Smyly yielded only one run and struck out four for his second start to his rookie campaign. The 22-year-old southpaw scattered seven hits in six innings, but settled for his second straight no-decision in the Tigers' 3-1 triumph over the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday. The game was a homecoming of sorts for the Arkansas native, who had a small - but vocal - contingent in the crowd cheering him on.
WALK-OFFS
1. Texas third baseman Adrian Beltre strained his left hamstring while legging out a second-inning double in the opener. He is not expected to play Sunday.
2. Detroit's Delmon Young had a pair of RBI singles Saturday - one in each game. Young has three hits in 10 career at-bats versus Lewis.
3. Texas' Mike Napoli saw his five-game home run streak come to an end - albeit in unconventional fashion. After belting a solo homer in the opener of the doubleheader, he entered the nightcap as a pinch-hitter and struck out in his lone at-bat.