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Rangers hope to get untracked with Blue Jays in town

Jul 22, 2011 - 3:01 PM (Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers were the epitome of hard-luck losers in a key division game on Thursday. Their fortunes may not turn around with the Toronto Blue Jays coming to Arlington.

The Rangers try to avoid a third straight setback while Colby Lewis aims to extend his six-start undefeated streak in the opener of a three-game series versus the Jays.

Texas wrapped a three-game set with American League West rival Los Angeles yesterday and got a complete game two-hit gem from C.J. Wilson. Only problem was, Wilson allowed an unearned run in the second inning due to an error by Endy Chavez and it was enough for the Angels to claim a 1-0 victory.

Wilson struck out eight, but was still denied his 11th win of the season. He was outdueled by Los Angeles' Jered Weaver, who threw seven-plus scoreless frames.

"Two good pitchers battled today," said Rangers manager Ron Washington. "C.J. pitched well enough to win the ballgame, but we just couldn't put any runs up."

Elvis Andrus collected three hits and Nelson Cruz hit safely twice for the Rangers, who lost two straight for the first time since July 2-3. They won 12 straight games in between losing streaks, but saw their edge over the Angels for first place in the division fall to three games.

The Blue Jays have played the thorn in the Rangers' side as of late. Toronto won three of four at Texas in late April and has won 10 of the past 13 meetings overall.

Lewis will hope to reverse that trend this evening and is 4-0 with a 2.36 earned run average over his last six starts. However, he has pitched to a 5.81 ERA in nine games at home this season and that includes a loss to the Blue Jays on April 25. The 31-year-old was tagged for six runs on seven hits and four walks over five innings, serving up homers to Jose Bautista, Corey Patterson and former Toronto hitter Juan Rivera in the fifth inning.

Lewis is 2-4 with an ugly 8.80 ERA in his career versus the Blue Jays, allowing 29 runs and 11 homers across 29 2/3 frames.

He has posted two scoreless outings over his unbeaten streak, including Friday at Seattle where he came within one out of his second career shutout. The right-handed Lewis scattered four hits and two walks, striking out eight to move to 9-7 with a 4.07 ERA on the season.

"Once again Colby went out there and executed his pitches throughout the whole game," said Washington. "He just ran out of gas there a little bit in the ninth, but he made pitches when he had to and did an excellent job."

Lewis faces a Blue Jays club tonight that is coming off a three-game sweep of the Mariners and has claimed a victory in eight of 10.

Thursday's win wasn't an easy one for Toronto, which saw Seattle tie yesterday's finale in the eighth inning on a grand slam. The Blue Jays showed their resolve by countering with a pair of runs in the bottom of the frame on Rajai Davis' two-out double that helped secure a 7-5 win.

Jon Rauch recorded the last five outs of the game for the Blue Jays to get the win after starter Ricky Romero was charged with four runs over 7 1/3 innings.

"I thought Ricky threw seven outstanding innings for us," said Blue Jays manager John Farrell.

Bautista also drove in two runs while serving as the designated hitter for a third straight game. The slugger is coming off an ankle injury, but could return to third base in this series.

That is good news for starter Jo-Jo Reyes, who was his last start versus the Rangers on April 27 go down hill after a throwing error by Edwin Encarnacion at third. Reyes yielded six unearned runs after the miscue and lasted just 2 2/3 innings in a no-decision.

Reyes has allowed just one earned run over two starts against Texas, posting a 0.93 earned run average without a decision.

Massive offensive support has helped the hurler win his last two starts, but the Toronto left-hander will try to do his part on the hill tonight.

The Blue Jays have scored 27 runs in Reyes' last two appearances, though he didn't need much help on July 8 in Cleveland. The 26-year-old allowed just three unearned runs over 5 2/3 innings, but struggled in a 16-7 victory over the Yankees last Thursday.

Staked to an 8-0 lead in the first inning, Reyes ended up allowing seven runs on 10 hits in 5 1/3 frames of action, escaping with a win to move to 5-7 with a 4.94 ERA on the season.