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Rangers send Ogando to the hill in opener with Tigers

Apr 11, 2011 - 2:40 PM (Sports Network) - Alexi Ogando tries to follow up a brilliant first major league start this afternoon when the Texas Rangers open a three-game series against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park.

Ogando, who pitched to a 1.30 earned run average in 44 bullpen appearances as a rookie last season, held the Seattle Mariners to two hits over six scoreless innings in his 2011 debut on Tuesday to get the win.

"He feels nothing out there. When I say nothing, I mean he's not overwhelmed by the situation," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I thought he might have had butterflies, but it didn't happen."

The 27-year-old right-hander faced the Tigers three times in relief last season and allowed a run in 2 1/3 outings of those outings.

Ogando should have plenty of support this evening, as the Rangers have won three straight series and eight of their first nine games, matching their best nine-game record in franchise history. Texas has only had two seasons -- 1989 (five) and 1993 (four) -- in which it has managed to win more than three straight series to start the year.

The Rangers captured the final two games of their three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles. On Sunday, Ian Kinsler hit a two-run homer and Adrian Beltre added a solo shot, helping Texas to a 3-0 win in the finale from Camden Yards.

Derek Holland (2-0) turned in six scoreless innings, allowing just five hits and fanning six for the Rangers. Neftali Feliz worked 1 1/3 scoreless innings to notch his third save.

The defending AL champions are 8-1 thus far, topping their 7-1 start to the 1996 campaign and moving closer to a franchise-best 10-1 opening to the 1989 season.

"It's huge," Holland said of the team's start. "People don't give us enough credit. They were already talking about Boston and everything else. I feel like people don't realize how good this team is, too."

Detroit, meanwhile, has lost six of nine games to start the year after dropping two of three to the Kansas City Royals over the weekend, including a 9-5 setback in Sunday's rubber match.

Miguel Cabrera clubbed a two-run homer for Detroit, while Jhonny Peralta and Alex Avila both added solo shots. Rick Porcello (0-2) was tagged for five runs and nine hits over five frames.

"We didn't play a very good game, but we did keep battling offensively and got ourselves in a position to get back into it," said Detroit manager Jim Leyland.

Heading to the hill this afternoon for the Tigers will be ace right-hander Justin Verlander, who will be making his third start of the year. Verlander picked up his first win of the year on Wednesday in Baltimore, as he held the Orioles to three runs and four hits in eight innings. He also struck out nine to improve to 1-0, while lowering his ERA to 3.86.

Verlander has been tremendous over the course of his career against the Rangers, posting a 6-1 mark to go along with a 2.37 ERA.

Texas took six of nine from the Tigers last season.