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Orioles-Rangers Preview

May 19, 2010 - 5:19 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Baltimore (12-27) at Texas (21-18), 8:05 p.m. EDT

Vladimir Guerrero has now homered against all 30 major league teams. Matchups with the Baltimore Orioles in recent years have been particularly beneficial for the eight-time All-Star's power numbers.

Following a key series sweep, the Texas Rangers hope Guerrero can continue his success against the Orioles in the opener of a two-game set Wednesday night in Arlington.

After being swept in three games at Toronto over the weekend, Texas (22-18) bounced back to win its first two games of the season against three-time defending AL West champion Los Angeles. The first-place Rangers' 8-7 victory Tuesday night increased their lead over the Angels to 4 1/2 games.

"To be able to come back and get back on track is probably the biggest thing," second baseman Ian Kinsler said.

Guerrero, whom the Angels opted against re-signing in the offseason after helping them win five division titles in six years, hit his eighth homer of the season and his first against his former team, giving him homers against every major league club.

Guerrero now has 415 career home runs, 21 of them against Baltimore (13-27). He's batting .368 (14 for 38) with six homers and 19 RBIs in his last 10 games versus the Orioles.

However, Guerrero is 1 for 14 against probable Baltimore starter Jeremy Guthrie (2-4, 4.13 ERA), who has won his last two outings.

The right-hander allowed one run and two hits in eight innings as Baltimore beat Cleveland 8-1 on Friday night. Guthrie is 3-0 with a 3.16 ERA in five career starts versus the Rangers.

Texas will give the ball to Rich Harden (2-1, 4.93), who is coming off his worst start of the season, surrendering seven runs, four hits and walking six in 2 2-3 innings of a 16-10 loss to Toronto on Friday night. The right-hander had been 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA in his previous three outings.

Harden has not received a decision in two career starts against the Orioles despite posting a 0.69 ERA.

He'll facing a Baltimore team that totaled six runs during a three-game skid before snapping it with a 4-3, 10-inning win over Kansas City on Tuesday night. Nick Markakis singled in the winning run as the Orioles split the two-game series.

"It's a huge boost. We've lost a few games when we've given up the lead late in the game and it's taken a toll on us," said left fielder Luke Scott, who hit a pair of solo homers to give him six home runs in his last nine games. "It's been difficult. It feels good to kind of do the same thing to someone else and have the ball roll in our favor for once."

Scott, though, is 1 for 16 with six strikeouts in his last five contests against Texas. Ty Wigginton, who leads the Orioles with 12 home runs and 26 RBIs, is batting .156 (5 for 32) in his last nine contests versus the Rangers.

Texas and Baltimore split last year's 10-game season series.