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Rangers try to stretch win streak in battle with Tigers

Jun 6, 2011 - 2:34 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers take aim at their sixth straight win this evening when they begin a three-game set with the Detroit Tigers at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Texas sent a message this weekend by sweeping a four-game set in Cleveland to close out a 6-1 road trip. The Rangers won for the ninth time in their last 10 overall games on Sunday, as Elvis Andrus and Mitch Moreland hit solo homers and C.J. Wilson pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings to help Texas to a 2-0 win over the Indians.

Wilson (6-3) gave up three hits to go with seven strikeouts and two walks for the Rangers, who secured their first four-game sweep in Cleveland since August of 1978. It was also the team's second straight shutout and third in five games.

"I used every pitch I had," Wilson said. "I didn't try to play country hardball and just throw the ball by people. I threw everything I had."

The whitewash was also the Rangers first of the four-game variety on the road since turning the trick at the Metrodome from April 22-25, 1999.

Now the Rangers return home and will give the ball to righty Colby Lewis, who has won three of his last four decisions. Lewis was brilliant in beating the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday, as he scattered four hits over eight scoreless innings to improve to 5-5 on the year, while lowering his ERA to 3.48.

"The biggest thing is my fastball command," said Lewis. "When I'm able to command my fastball, it makes all my other pitches better. Right now I feel comfortable out there, and everything is going well."

Lewis has faced the Tigers four times (three starts) and is 2-1 with a 4.43 ERA.

Thanks to the Rangers' performance over the weekend, the Tigers are now back in the mix in the American League Central, as they enter this series just 2 1/2 games back of the Indians after taking two of three from the Chicago White Sox.

In Sunday's rubber match with the Pale Hose, Ryan Raburn's grand slam capped a six-run fourth inning that lifted the Tigers to a 7-3 win.

Brad Penny (5-4) allowed three runs on eight hits over five innings to get the win, while Miguel Cabrera tacked on a solo homer in the sixth inning for the Tigers, who have won six of their last seven overall.

Heading to the hill for Detroit tonight will be righty Max Scherzer, who is 6-2 with a 4.38 ERA, but is winless in his last four starts and has been awful his last two times out. After getting roughed up for seven runs in two innings on May 26, Scherzer again allowed seven runs on Tuesday to Minnesota. His offense bailed him out, though, and he escaped without a decision in his team's 8-7 win.

Scherzer is 2-0 lifetime against the Rangers with a 2.42 ERA in four starts.

The Tigers took two of three from the Rangers earlier in the year.