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Hamilton, Rangers hope to avoid fourth straight loss

May 21, 2008 - 1:16 PM Texas (22-25) at Minnesota (23-22) 8:10 pm EDT

MINNEAPOLIS (Ticker) - Josh Hamilton and the Texas Rangers will look to snap a three-game losing skid Wednesday when they meet the Minnesota Twins in the third contest of a four-game series.

Despite the club's struggles, Hamilton has still managed to stay red-hot. He is 11-for-20 (.550) with three home runs and seven RBI over his last five games.

The 26-year-old Hamilton, who leads the American League with 51 RBI this season, has posted a team-leading .321 batting average with 11 blasts this season.

Twins starter Nick Blackburn (4-2, 3.77 ERA) will have the tough task of trying to shutdown Hamilton and the rest of the Rangers offense. The 26-year-old Blackburn has won four of his last five decisions.

The righthander pitched seven innings, allowing two runs and six hits with five strikeouts in Friday's 4-2 triumph over the Colorado Rockies.

Texas will counter with Sidney Ponson (2-0, 3.52), who spent the 2007 campaign with Minnesota. He made just seven starts for the Twins, going 2-5 with a 6.93 ERA last season.

Ponson was tagged for seven runs - three earned - and nine hits with no walks and two strikeouts over five frames during a 16-8 win over the Houston Astros on Friday.

Minnesota is seeking its third straight win after cruising to an 11-4 victory over Texas on Tuesday.