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Rangers shoot for another win at Atlanta

Jun 18, 2011 - 3:06 PM (Sports Network) - Turner Field is the site of this weekend's interleague series between the Texas Rangers and the Atlanta Braves, with game two of the three-game series on the docket today.

The Rangers will hand the ball to lefty Matt Harrison today, and while his 5-6 record doesn't exactly evoke confidence, his 3.31 ERA is a more accurate barometer of how he has pitched to date. He has scattered 62 hits in 70 2/3 innings of work, but his walk total of 32 is a bit high. Despite allowing just one earned run in six innings against Minnesota last time out, Harrison was tagged with a loss.

Originally drafted by the Braves, Harrison has never pitched against Atlanta.

Derek Lowe got off to a strong start this season, but he has certainly cooled off in recent weeks. In fact, Lowe is winless in his last five starts, and he has fallen to 3-5 with a 4.02 ERA. He hasn't won since beating the Phillies back on May 6 and is fresh off Monday's loss to Houston in which he struggled.

Lowe is 3-3 lifetime versus the Rangers with a 2.92 ERA.

Yesterday, Josh Hamilton went 4-for-5 with a two-run homer and three RBI, as the Rangers took down the Braves, 6-2, in the opener of this series.

"I felt good at the plate," Hamilton said. "I felt like I had a plan as far as what they were going to do to me from the series before against the Yankees."

Nelson Cruz had two doubles and drove in three runs for the Rangers, who snapped a five-game skid.

Colby Lewis (6-7) gave up two runs on five hits over 6 2/3 innings to pick up the win. He also struck out 10 and walked three.

Brian McCann and Freddie Freeman hit solo homers for the Braves, who have lost four of five.

Randall Delgado (0-1) allowed four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits over four-plus innings in his MLB debut. Young ace Tommy Hanson was supposed to take the mound for Friday's opener, but the talented righty was placed on the 15-day disabled list with right shoulder tendinitis.

"You go into a game with a guy that's got 60 innings in Double-A, and I thought he did an unbelievable job," McCann said of Delgado. "Any loss is tough to swallow but, at the same time, the kid got some experience."

Atlanta third baseman Chipper Jones (right adductor strain) missed the game, and his status for today's contest is uncertain.

The Braves are now five games back of the Phillies in the AL East, while Texas leads the AL West by a half-game over Seattle.

Texas has won five of its last seven interleague clashes with Atlanta, including last night's tilt. The Rangers lost all three meetings to the Braves in their last visit to Turner Field, which occurred from June 3-5, 2003.