• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Orioles-Rangers Preview

Jul 11, 2010 - 4:58 AM By JON PALMIERI STATS Editor

Baltimore (27-59) at Texas (50-36), 3:05 p.m. EDT

Regardless of how it ends, this has been a dismal first half of the season for the Baltimore Orioles.

Still, a stunning four-game road sweep of a first-place team would be a very nice way to head into the All-Star break.

Fresh off a victory against baseball's hottest pitcher, the Orioles look to complete their first four-game road sweep in 15 years Sunday against the Texas Rangers.

No team has endured more misery in the first half than the Orioles (28-59), who at one point were on pace to match the 1962 Mets for the worst record in baseball history.

Though it still owns the majors' worst record, Baltimore has played much better lately. The Orioles have won nine of 16 after losing 21 of 25.

Juan Samuel's club started this four-game series against AL West-leading Texas (50-37) having won only three series all season and none on the road. After rallying from 4-0 deficits to win the first two games, the Orioles posted perhaps their most impressive win of the year Saturday night by spoiling Cliff Lee's Rangers debut.

Nick Markakis, Cesar Izturis and Adam Jones all homered off Lee, and Chris Tillman took a no-hitter into the seventh inning as Baltimore clinched its first road series win of the season with a 6-1 victory.

"To come in here and win a series against this team is outstanding," Baltimore interim manager Samuel said. "I told the guys we might as well go for it. Our hitters attacked the ball early. Against a pitcher like Cliff Lee, you have to attack early."

A win in the series finale would give the Orioles their first four-game road sweep since July 6-9, 1995, against the White Sox.

A vastly improved offense has been the biggest difference for the Orioles. They are averaging 5.4 runs during the 9-7 stretch after scoring 2.7 during a 4-21 slide.

Markakis has one been of the catalysts for Baltimore, batting .360 with 10 multihit efforts in his last 23 games. A lifetime .338 hitter against the Rangers, he is 8 for 20 against them this season.

The Rangers have lost three straight for the first time since a four-game skid in late May. They'll look to avoid their first four-game home sweep since July 21-24, 2005, against Oakland when they send C.J. Wilson (7-4, 3.24 ERA) to the mound.

The left-hander has won four of his last five decisions while turning in quality starts in five of his past six appearances. He had little trouble with Cleveland on Tuesday, giving up one run and two hits over six innings in a 12-1 victory.

Wilson has been particularly good at home lately, winning his last four starts there while allowing eight earned runs and 17 hits in 25 innings.

This will be Wilson's first start against the Orioles since Aug. 5, 2005. He is 1-1 with a 4.11 ERA in his last 16 appearances - all in relief - against them.

Jake Arrieta (2-2, 4.96), who grew up in nearby Plano, Texas and starred at TCU, looks to end a four-start winless streak for Baltimore. After winning his first two major league starts with a 2.77 ERA, the rookie right-hander went 0-2 with an 8.78 ERA in his next three outings.

He was much sharper Tuesday at Detroit, allowing one run and seven hits over 6 1-3 innings. He stood to get the win before the bullpen faltered in a 7-5, 11-inning loss.