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Blue Jays-Rangers game postponed

Jun 11, 2009 - 3:01 AM By DAVID JIMENEZ Associated Press Writer

ARLINGTON, Texas(AP) -- With the Toronto Blue Jays suddenly turning around their play on the road, Ricky Romero was antsy to take the mound.

After going winless in a nine-game trip last month, the Blue Jays took the first two games of their series at the first-place Texas Rangers.

"Good teams are going to go through some skids," said Romero, who was supposed to start Wednesday night against the Rangers before the game was postponed because of rain. "We went through one, but we've put it behind us."

The game, which was called after a delay of 1 hour, 40 minutes, will be made up as part of a doubleheader Sept. 1.

Both scheduled starting pitchers, Texas' Kevin Millwood and Romero, will take the mound for the series finale Thursday night.

"I was trying to stay loose during the delay," Romero said. "I'm anxious to get back out there (Thursday). My approach won't change at all."

The Blue Jays, who are two games behind the first place Boston in the American League East, were outscored 53-23 in losing three apiece to Boston, Atlanta and Baltimore.

Toronto recovered to go 5-4 on its last homestand and have outscored the Rangers 15-3 this week.

Adam Lind has hit three home runs this series and Scott Rolen is 6 for 8 since missing two games with a bad back.

The Blue Jays' only concern offensively is slumping center fielder Vernon Wells, who is homerless in his last 121 at bats. It's his longest power drought since 2002.

"He has done a lot of things that help us win," Toronto manager Cito Gaston said. "He had a couple of walks (Monday) that turned into two-run home runs. He has stolen some bases. If he's starting to hit, that's going to help us even more."

The Rangers have lost six of nine overall but remain 3 1/2 games ahead of the Los Angeles Angels.

In addition to the news that slugger Josh Hamilton could miss up to six more weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a partially torn abdominal muscle, Texas is battling a recent rash of injuries to the pitching staff.

Right-hander Brandon McCarthy went on the disabled list this week with a stress fracture in his shoulder blade and left-hander Matt Harrison, who will make a rehab start in the minors Thursday, has been sidelined since May 26 with shoulder inflammation.

Closer Frank Francisco hasn't pitched since June 3 because of shoulder tightness. The hard-throwing righty did throw on flat ground Wednesday, but there is no timeline for his return or whether he'd need to go on the disabled list.

"I don't think Frankie being day-to-day has affected us as much as having two starters or Hamilton out," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "The guys in the back end of the bullpen have been picking it up."

NOTES: Gaston intended to give Marco Scutaro the day off Wednesday, but he said his leadoff hitter would be back in the lineup Thursday. ... Rangers LHP Derek Holland, who was supposed to start Thursday night, will now pitch Sunday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.