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Bedard on mound for Orioles

Aug 21, 2007 - 1:32 PM Texas (54-69) at Baltimore (57-65) 7:05 pm EDT

BALTIMORE (Ticker) - The Baltimore Orioles send ace Erik Bedard to the mound on Tuesday in the opener of a three-game series against the Texas Rangers.

A legitimate Cy Young candidate, Bedard (12-4, 2.98 ERA) has won his last eight decisons and is unbeaten in his last 12 starts since losing to Colorado on June 10.

Bedard has not picked up a decision in his last two starts despite allowing three runs over 14 2/3 innings. The lefthander, who leads the majors with 207 strikeouts, allowed four hits over seven scoreless innings against the New York Yankees on Thursday.

Bedard is 3-1 with a 2.48 ERA in five career starts against the Rangers. Baltimore has won each of Bedard's last 11 starts.

The Rangers send John Rheinecker (1-1, 5.82) to the mound. The 28-year-old lefthander has been solid of late, allowing five total earned runs 13 1/3 innings over his last two outings, though he is just 0-1 over that span.

Rheinecker got knocked around in his lone career start against Baltimore, allowing seven runs and 3 2/3 innings on July 15 of last season.

The Rangers have dropped three of their last four while the Orioles have won three of five.