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Tejeda searches for rare win as Rangers host Indians

Jul 22, 2007 - 1:11 PM Cleveland (57-40) at Texas (42-55) 8:35 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) - The Texas Rangers broke through on Saturday after a pair of disappointing losses. On Sunday, they look for a split of their four-game series against the visiting Cleveland Indians.

The Rangers posted 8-5 victory on Saturday after being stymied the two previous nights, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth inning of both contests.

Robinson Tejeda (5-8, 6.68 ERA) will get the ball for Texas. The 25-year-old righthander has struggled lately, going 1-5 with an 8.87 ERA in his last 10 starts. Over that stretch, Tejeda is allowing opponents a .335 batting average and 1.027 OPS.

A lack of control has him ranked in the top 10 in the American League in home runs allowed, base on balls allowed, earned runs allowed, hit batsmen and wild pitches. He never has made an appearance against the Indians.

On the opposite end of the control spectrum is Cleveland starter Paul Byrd (7-4, 4.50). The veteran righthander has walked just eight batters in 108 innings pitched this season.

Byrd issued a season-high two base on balls last Tuesday in a no decision against the Chicago White Sox. He earned a win on April 26 against the Rangers, yielding three runs and eight hits in six innings.

Texas may be without slugger Sammy Sosa, who left Saturday's game in the third inning when he was hit in the head by a pitch from Cleveland starter Cliff Lee.