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Rangers attempt to maintain mastery of Royals

Apr 22, 2011 - 2:54 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers try to continue their recent mastery of the Kansas City Royals this evening when the two teams open a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Texas took seven of nine from the Royals last season and has beaten them the last five times and seven of the last 10 times the teams have squared off in Arlington.

The Rangers, though, come into this series after dropping two of three to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and have lost six of eight since opening the year with nine wins through their first 10 games. On Wednesday, Texas lost the rubber match of its set with the Angels, falling 4-1.

"We're playing good baseball," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Those other teams are playing good baseball, too. We're only in April. It's not time to panic."

Matt Harrison (3-1) gave up three runs on four hits over 6 2/3 frames. The left-hander also struck out five and walked three.

Getting the call for the Rangers this evening will be lefty Derek Holland, who is 2-1 with a 3.66 ERA. Holland suffered his first loss of the season on Saturday to the New York Yankees, as he allowed five runs and eight hits in 7 2/3 innings.

Holland is 0-1 with a 7.94 ERA in two games (one start) in his career against the Royals.

Kansas City will counter with a lefty of its own in Jeff Francis, who is still searching for his first win in a Royals uniform. Francis hasn't given up more than three runs in any start this season, but is 0-1 with a 3.00 ERA. He suffered his first loss on Sunday to Seattle, which reached him for three runs and six hits in 6 1/3 innings.

Francis lost his only other start to the Rangers.

The Royals stunned the Cleveland Indians on Thursday, as Melky Cabrera's two- run single in the bottom of the ninth lifted Kansas City to a 3-2 win in the finale of the four-game set at Kauffman Stadium.

Reliever Aaron Crow (2-0) earned the win when he pitched a scoreless ninth inning for the Royals, who recorded a split in the series and at 12-7 sit a game back of the Tribe in the American League Central.

"That was as great a game as was played in baseball, I'm going to tell you right now," Yost said. "Both teams played great baseball."

Kansas City outfielder Alex Gordon also comes into this series riding a 15- game hitting streak.