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Hamilton, Rangers to face Carmona, Indians

May 23, 2008 - 1:40 PM Texas (24-25) at Cleveland (22-25) 7:05 pm EDT

CLEVELAND (Ticker) - Red-hot Josh Hamilton will be taking his swings against one of the stingiest pitchers in the American League when the Texas Rangers visit the Cleveland Indians on Friday.

Hamilton on Monday set an American League record by reaching 50 RBI in just 45 games. The five-tool outfielder, who was acquired from the Cincinnati Reds in the offseason, has not slowed down since, going 10-for-21 over the last four games and boosting his batting average to an AL-best .335.

Hamilton took the lead in all three triple crown categories on Thursday when his 10th-inning solo homer gave the Rangers an 8-7 win over the Minnesota Twins and pushed his season total to 12 blasts.

He may have a hard time getting the ball in the air on Friday, however, as the Indians send sinkerballer Fausto Carmona (4-1, 2.25 ERA) to the mound.

Carmona's ability to get outs on the ground has helped him keep his ERA in check despite yielding 35 walks in 56 innings. He has not lost since April 12 and did not factor in the decision Saturday despite allowing just one run and four hits in 7 1/3 innings against the Cincinnati Reds.

Carmona will need to put together a good performance to break Cleveland out of it's current funk. The defending AL Central champions have lost six in a row due to a sputtering offense that has managed just 13 runs over that span.

Texas will counter with its own sinkerball specialist, lefthander Kason Gabbard (1-1, 3.12).

Gabbard is coming off his worst start of the season Sunday against the Houston Astros in which he allowed five runs and nine hits in five innings while walking three and striking out four. He has not earned a win since his first start of the season on April 4.