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Marlins hope to reverse fortunes in Arlington

Jul 2, 2011 - 2:42 PM (Sports Network) - Texas attempts to follow up one of their most lopsided wins of the season when they host the Florida Marlins in the second test of a three-game interleague set at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

Last night the Rangers registered an easy 15-5 win in the series opener, marking the eighth time this season that the club has scored double-digit runs. With the effort Texas, which is in the midst of a 10-game homestand, moved five games over .500 and is now two games ahead of the LA Angels for first place in the American League West.

The standout performer for the Rangers on Friday was Nelson Cruz who matched a career high with six RBI, thanks to a three-run home run and a three-run triple for the hosts. Texas set a season-high in runs scored in the matchup, cranking out eight extra-base hits and 15 overall just a day after being blanked by the Houston Astros.

Adrian Beltre and Taylor Teagarden both contributed three hits and combined to drive in six runs for the hosts as they won for the third time in the last four outings.

Texas starter Alexi Ogando limited the Marlins to two runs in 6 2/3 innings as he allowed five hits, walked two and struck out eight for his eighth win of the campaign.

"Tonight he mixed right away," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "His fastball was good tonight, it was really good. He wasn't missing many spots, either."

Florida starter Anibal Sanchez was tagged with his second loss of the campaign as he gave up seven runs on seven hits and walked four batters over the course of just 3 2/3 innings of work.

Marlins batters scattered nine hits and were struck out a total of 13 times, three of those coming from Gaby Sanchez. Emilio Bonifacio and Logan Morrison both delivered doubles for the visitors, knocking in one and scoring a run apiece.

Florida, which saw a brief two-game win streak come to an end, is now 10 games under .500 and already a staggering 15 1/2 games out of contention in the National League East.

Facing off against the Florida Marlins for the first time in his career will be Texas lefty Derek Holland as he takes the hill for the hosts tonight. Holland, who is in his third major league season with the Rangers, has dropped two of his last three outings since kicking off 2011 with a 5-1 mark.

Last weekend the Ohio native gave up a season-high 12 hits, resulting in seven runs through six innings, although only three were actually earned, in an 8-5 loss to the New York Mets. Holland didn't walk a single batter in the outing for the first time this season, but he also failed to deliver a strikeout for the second time in three games.

Even though he has yet to win a major league game, Brad Hand was recalled from Double-A Jacksonville on Friday in order to make the start for the Marlins this evening.

The 21-year old right-hander made three starts for the big club in June but failed to get any run support and was tagged with defeats in all three outings. The most recent appearance took place on June 17 against the Tampa Bay Rays as he gave up two runs on three hits -- two of those being home runs -- in 4 2/3 innings of action. Hand also walked three and struck out only two in the 5-1 setback. So far this season the Minnesota native has issued nine bases-on-balls and fanned just 10 batters.

To make room for Hand on the roster the Marlins placed Ryan Webb on the 15-day disabled list.

Texas hitters have produced 395 runs through 83 games this season, fourth-most in the majors heading into action on Saturday. The club is second only to the New York Yankees in terms of home runs, sporting 97 at this stage of the campaign.

Last year Texas swept the Marlins in three straight on the road and has now taken four in a row the last two years after not having played each other since 2005. The Rangers are also 9-7 in interleague play thus far in 2011, Florida only 6-10.