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Bautista leads Jays into second test with Rangers

Apr 26, 2011 - 2:54 PM (Sports Network) - Jose Bautista's club-record 54 homers a season ago showed he has power. Now the slugger is showing his 2010 season was no fluke either.

After powering their way to a victory in last night's series opener, the Toronto Blue Jays try to make it two in a row this evening against the hosting Texas Rangers in Arlington.

Bautista's power display last year helped the Blue Jays to an MLB-leading 257 homers and Toronto was at it again last night, connecting on three homers during a six-run fifth inning to bully its way to a 6-4 win. Bautista followed a Corey Patterson three-run homer with a solo shot of his own, while Juan Rivera added a two-run blast in the frame.

The victory was Toronto's third in nine games and came in the opener of a 10- game road trip.

"We definitely need to help [Jose] out," Patterson told his team's website. "That's what we have to do. Tonight it seemed like I was able to jump-start the team."

Bautista doesn't look like he needs much help right now. His eight homers through 19 games are tied for the most in the majors and he is batting .440 (11-for-25) with five homers and nine walks over his past eight games. Surprisingly, he only had three home runs through his first 19 games a season ago.

Still, more help could be coming to Toronto's offense tonight. Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion has been day-to-day with a sore left wrist, but could be in the starting lineup tonight, while center fielder Rajai Davis may be activated from the 15-day disabled list. He has been out since April 12 due to a sprained right ankle.

Kyle Drabek hurled six innings of three-run ball last night and benefited from the home run display, something that would also help Jesse Litsch in his return to the rotation after a very quick stint in the minor leagues.

The right-hander was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas after giving up six runs -- four earned -- on seven hits over six innings of a loss to Boston on April 17. He made a brief start on Friday, allowing an earned run over three innings and 44 pitches before being recalled to replace Brett Cecil, who was optioned to Las Vegas on Thursday.

"Friday's start was on his fifth day from his previous start. He had been over 100 pitches prior on a couple of occasions, so we don't look at that as a step back in terms of workload capability," Blue Jays manager John Farrell said on Toronto's official website.

Litsch, 26, is 1-1 with a 3.63 earned run average in three starts against the Blue Jays this year and 1-0 in two versus the Rangers in his career despite a 5.06 ERA.

Texas' Michael Young is hitless in six career at-bats against Litsch and puts a 15-game hitting streak on the line tonight. He extended his run with a pair of hits last night and is batting .419 (26-for-62) over the tear with 11 RBI, and also has a hit in 20 of his 22 games this season.

Colby Lewis, though, couldn't keep the ball in the park last night for the Rangers as he gave up all three home runs over his five-inning start.

The Rangers were coming off a three-game sweep of the Royals and fell to 4-3 on a 10-game homestand. They also lost for just the third time in 13 home games this season.

Texas' Matt Harrison will try to start a new winning streak tonight after having a personal three-start run end last time out.

The left-hander had yielded just three earned runs over 22 innings in claiming victory over his first three starts, but gave up three runs on four hits and three walks in 6 2/3 innings of a 4-1 loss to the Angels on Wednesday.

Harrison, who still has a 1.88 ERA on the season, has faced the Blue Jays twice in his career, including one start, and the 25-year-old has pitched to a 9.00 ERA without a decision.

Toronto won seven of 10 over Texas last season, winning two of the three meetings in Arlington.