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Rangers look to end slide against Orioles

Sep 21, 2007 - 2:30 PM Baltimore (65-87) at Texas (70-83) 8:05 pm EDT

ARLINGTON, Texas (Ticker) - The Texas Rangers will try to end a four-game losing streak when they continue their four-game series against the Baltimore Orioles on Friday.

The Rangers dropped the first game of the series, 6-3, in 10 innings on Thursday night. After being held to just one run, the Orioles came alive during the 10th, scoring five runs - highlighted by Brian Roberts' three-run homer.

The win snapped a three-game losing streak for Baltimore, which was swept by the New York Yankees in the midst of a 10-game road trip.

Victor Santos (0-1, 11.57 ERA) will try to earn his first win since the Orioles purchased his contract from the Cincinnati Reds on September 8.

Santos has been awful in his two previous starts with Baltimore, giving up nine runs and 14 hits in seven innings. In his last start, the 30-year-old righthander allowed four runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings, but did not factor into the decision of an 8-6 victory against the Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday.

Rookie Luis Mendoza (0-0, 2.08) will make just his second start in the majors for the Rangers on Friday.

The 23-year-old Mendoza made his debut on September 8 against the Oakland Athletics, allowing two hits over two scoreless innings in his first start before leaving the game when he was hit in the knee with a line drive off the bat of Nick Swisher.

The righthander, who has made two relief appearances since his debut, was called up from Class AA Frisco on September 6 after posting a 15-4 record with a 3.93 ERA.