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Padres-Rangers Preview

Jun 28, 2009 - 5:33 AM By SANTOSH VENKATARAMAN STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (31-41) at Texas (40-32), 8:05 p.m. EDT

The Texas Rangers are out of first place for the first time since May 5. They're looking for a victory before they start a key series against the team they are now chasing.

With a major showdown looming, the Rangers first try to focus on capturing their weekend home series Sunday night against the San Diego Padres.

Texas (40-33) had held at least a share of the AL West lead for 52 straight days before falling 7-3 on Saturday to see its three-game winning streak end. The Los Angeles Angels, who travel to Arlington for a three-game set starting Monday, moved one-half game ahead of the Rangers.

San Diego (32-41) ended its three-game slide with a season-high 16-hit attack. Kevin Kouzmanoff and Chase Headley each had three hits and scored two runs.

"It was a collective effort," Padres manager Bud Black said. "When you knock out 16 hits, a lot of guys are doing good things."

Padres rookie left fielder Kyle Blanks had the best game of his young career with two hits and three RBIs. He was 2 for 16 with six strikeouts coming into the game.

"It's nice to see all the work and practice pay off," Blanks said. "I was getting good swings at good pitches."

Texas will try to bounce back behind Tommy Hunter (0-0, 5.06 ERA), who will be recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to make his second start of the year. He is replacing Matt Harrison, who was placed on the disabled list for the second time this season Saturday with biceps inflammation.

Hunter made a spot start on May 29, giving up three runs in 5 1-3 innings against Oakland in a 6-3 victory. He made that start as a result of Harrison's first stint on the DL.

Hunter, a 22-year-old right-hander, is 3-2 with a 3.83 ERA for Oklahoma City this season. He made three starts for the Rangers last season, going 0-2 with a 16.36 ERA.

"Right now, it's a spot (start)," manager Ron Washington told the Rangers' official Web site. "We don't know if it will be more."

San Diego's Chad Gaudin (3-6, 5.60) will try to win consecutive starts for the first time since he won three straight with Oakland from April 18-28, 2008. The right-hander ended a personal three-game losing streak Tuesday by allowing two runs over seven innings and matching a career high with 11 strikeouts in a 9-7 win at Seattle.

"I felt good today, the slider was working, fastball was working, change was working, and I felt I kept the hitters pretty honest and it worked out great for me," Gaudin said.

Because Gaudin pitched for Oakland from 2006-08, he has faced many of the Rangers. Michael Young is 12 for 24 with four RBIs against him while Hank Blalock is 7 for 8 with four extra-base hits and three RBIs.

Gaudin is 2-4 with a 6.18 ERA in seven career starts against the Rangers, including 0-2 with an 8.59 ERA in three outings at Arlington. He also has a 5.73 ERA in 12 relief appearances versus Texas.