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Royals-Rangers Preview

May 8, 2010 - 4:39 AM By MIKE LIPKA STATS Writer

Kansas City (11-18) at Texas (15-14), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Even the reigning AL Cy Young winner can't seem to get a win for the reeling Kansas City Royals, who've been even worse with Gil Meche on the mound.

The red-hot Texas Rangers, meanwhile, have to feel good about their chances of beating Kansas City for a third straight night Saturday, when they'll turn to Rich Harden to build on his best start of 2010.

Honored as the league's best pitcher last year, Zack Greinke fell to 0-4 on Friday night as Texas dealt the Royals their third straight defeat overall, beating them 4-1.

Kansas City (11-19) hasn't lost four straight this season, but the club has not won any of Meche's five outings - hardly surprising considering the right-hander's major problems after starting the season on the disabled list with a shoulder injury.

Meche (0-3, 9.89 ERA) has shown few signs of progress, with opposing hitters batting .353 against him while drawing 18 walks in 23 2-3 innings. He allowed five runs in five innings of a 5-1 loss at Chicago on Monday.

"I don't know how I have confidence right now, but I actually do," Meche said. "My body feels good on the mound. I'm just not making good pitches. When I'm ahead in the count, I'm leaving breaking balls up in the zone."

Arlington may not be the most likely place for his fortunes to turn. Meche has gone 3-6 with a 6.96 ERA in nine career starts at Texas, despite tossing six shutout innings in a 12-3 win in his last visit April 17, 2009.

Harden hasn't faced the Royals since 2005, but his Oakland teams won all four of his starts against Kansas City, with the right-hander posting a 2-0 record and 1.42 ERA.

After walking 23 in his first five starts this season, Harden (2-1, 3.52) did not issue a free pass in seven shutout innings Monday at Oakland, racking up nine strikeouts while allowing two hits in the Rangers' 4-2 victory.

"It's nice," Harden said. "I haven't been myself lately. This is what I want to continue here on out, this feeling."

The Rangers (16-14) would also love to continue their current pace after winning eight of 11 to take over first place in the AL West. Those 11 games coincide exactly with the absence of slugger Nelson Cruz, who was batting .323 with seven home runs and 17 RBIs when he went on the disabled list.

Texas has still managed to average 4.9 runs without Cruz, and Vladimir Guerrero is a big reason why.

After homering twice in Thursday night's 13-12 win, including the go-ahead shot in the eighth inning, Guerrero went 2 for 3 with another home run and two RBIs in Friday's victory.

"Vladdy is a superfreak. He can hit it above his head or off his feet," Royals manager Trey Hillman said.

Kansas City, meanwhile, saw its bats go quiet Friday after totaling 39 hits in its previous three games. Cleanup hitter Jose Guillen went 0 for 4 and is 6 for 42 (.143) in his last 11 games.

"We're just getting beat right now," Greinke said.