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Aug 22, 2010 - 1:02 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

Texas (68-53) at Baltimore (43-80), 1:35 p.m. EDT

Tommy Hunter was one of the Texas Rangers' most outstanding pitchers over the first half of the season, but like his teammates, he's been struggling the last few weeks.

After failing to make it out of the fourth inning in his last two starts, Hunter will take the mound Sunday for the Rangers, who look to earn a split of a four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles.

Hunter (9-2, 3.71 ERA) opened the season 8-0, but in his last four starts he's pitched out of the fourth inning only once while posting a 9.39 ERA. The right-hander lasted three-plus innings against Tampa Bay on Tuesday, giving up four runs and six hits while throwing 83 pitches in the 10-1 loss.

"If I knew (what the problem) was, I wouldn't be here talking about it," Hunter told the Rangers' official website. "I do know that I need to locate the fastball down and away. That's probably going to be the key to success."

Hunter pitched six innings against Baltimore on July 8, giving up two homers and three runs in a 6-4 loss. He didn't factor in the decision.

The Rangers (68-54) will hand him the ball after losing 8-6 to the Orioles on Saturday. The AL West leaders, who still have a comfortable lead atop the division, have dropped six of seven to Baltimore and nine of 13 overall.

After C.J. Wilson pitched 8 2-3 innings in a 2-0 win on Friday, Cliff Lee failed to make it out of the sixth Saturday, serving up four homers and allowing all eight runs.

The Rangers, who entered August with the third-best ERA in the AL at 3.81, have a 5.69 ERA over the last 10 games.

"It's easy to play when everything is going well," catcher Bengie Molina said. "It's going to tell us what kind of team we are."

The Orioles (44-80), meanwhile, improved to 12-7 under manager Buck Showalter, their best 19-game stretch since an identical run in June 2008. Baltimore was shut out for the second time in four games Friday, but responded with 11 hits Saturday.

Rookie Josh Bell hit his first two major league home runs and finished with five RBIs, while Luke Scott also homered and is batting .361 this month.

While the Orioles have improved under Showalter, Kevin Millwood (2-13, 5.46) hasn't been able to translate that into any success in his first season with Baltimore after being traded from Texas in the offseason. Millwood, who has lost five straight decisions, is winless since defeating Florida on June 24.

He gave up one run and six hits in eight innings of a 4-0 loss to Seattle on Tuesday. It was the 20th time in 24 starts the Orioles scored three or fewer runs in one of Millwood's starts.

"I expect Kevin to pitch well," Showalter said. "He gives us a chance to win."

The right-hander spent four seasons in Texas, winning at least 10 games three times. A loss Sunday would tie his career high, set in 2007.