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Royals-Rangers Preview

May 6, 2010 - 5:40 AM By JEFF MEZYDLO STATS Senior Writer

Kansas City (11-16) at Texas (14-13), 8:05 p.m. EDT

With the majority of their remaining games in May at home, it would seem the Texas Rangers have a good chance to string together some wins.

First, the Rangers must avoid a third straight loss when they open a four-game home series with the Kansas City Royals on Thursday night.

Though Texas (14-14) is 7-6 at home this season, it has an opportunity to improve that mark while playing 14 of the next 17 games in Arlington. The Rangers, who have two wins and a split over their last three home series, are 42-21 in May since the start of 2008.

They'll open this set after dropping two straight at Oakland to conclude a 4-2 swing. Elvis Andrus had two hits, and Vladimir Guerrero had an RBI in a 4-1 loss to the Athletics on Wednesday. Texas had scored at least four runs in three of its previous five contests.

"We can execute better," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "We've got to make sure we continue to pound and get them in the right frame of mind."

Guerrero has been in the proper state of mind during his first season with the Rangers. The 2004 AL MVP is 6 for 18 with a homer and six RBIs in his last five games.

Texas will hand the ball to Matt Harrison (1-1, 4.97 ERA), who looks to build off his first win in almost a year.

After giving up 12 runs in his previous two starts, the left-hander allowed three in six innings of a 6-3 win at Seattle on Saturday for his first victory since May 14. Harrison was limited to 11 starts last season because of thoracic outlet syndrome.

"It's a boost in confidence, said Harrison, who is 1-1 with a 5.40 ERA against Kansas City.

The Royals (11-17) look to bounce back after a 9-2 loss at Chicago on Wednesday that dropped them to 3-4 on their season-high 11-game road trip.

Alberto Callaspo had an RBI and two of the 12 hits for the Royals, who went 2 for 9 with runners in scoring position during the finale. Kansas City is averaging 2.6 runs during its trip.

"We're just going through a rough patch," first baseman Billy Butler told the Royals' official website. "We'll get it turned around. We have too many guys on this team that can swing the bat."

Despite his team's struggles to score consistently, Callaspo is 9 for 27 with five RBIs on the trip, and 11 for 23 with three doubles in his last six games against Texas.

Butler is 10 for 29 on the trip, and a lifetime .346 hitter versus the Rangers.

Looking to continue his recent success, Kansas City's Kyle Davies (2-1, 3.52) tries for his first win against Texas.

Though the right-hander is 0-3 with a 5.55 ERA in five starts versus the Rangers, he's allowed two runs and four hits in 12 innings of his last two starts overall. Both runs came Saturday when he lasted six innings of a 4-2 win over Tampa Bay in 11.

Kansas City and Texas split six meetings in 2009, with the Royals taking two of three in Arlington.