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McCarthy, Rangers aim to sweep Mariners

Jul 25, 2007 - 1:12 PM Seattle (55-44) at Texas (45-56) 8:35 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) - Brandon McCarthy takes the mound looking to end a rather lengthy personal winless streak as the Texas Rangers aim for a three-game sweep of the slumping Seattle Mariners on Wednesday.

Winless in his last six starts, McCarthy (4-7, 5.53 ERA) will try and extend the Rangers' winning streak to a season high-tying four games.

Rookie Travis Metcalf went 4-for-4 and finished a homer shy of the cycle as the Rangers completed a doubleheader sweep with a 4-3 victory on Tuesday night.

The Rangers won the first game, 2-1, behind seven solid innings from John Rheinecker and an RBI triple from Marlon Byrd. C loser Eric Gagne had a busy day, saving both games.

Now McCarthy will try and lead the Rangers to their first four game winning streak since June 20-23. In his last start, the righthander allowed three runs six hits in 5 2/3 innings against Cleveland on Friday.

Meanwhile, Miguel Batista (10-7, 4.32) takes the mound for Seattle, which has lost five straight. Batista has won his past two starts, surrendering just three runs or less in nine of his last 10 starts.

In his last outing, the 36-year-old righthander yielded two runs and five hits in 5 2/3 innings against Toronto.