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Mets, Rangers set to play doubleheader

Jun 15, 2008 - 2:37 PM Texas (34-35) at Ny Mets (32-34) 1:10 pm EDT

FLUSHING, New York (Ticker) -- With their manager's job reportedly once again hanging in the balance, the New York Mets will attempt to clinch an interleague series when they host the Texas Rangers in a doubleheader on Sunday.

Manager Willie Randolph earned another day in the dugout when Saturday's game was postponed due to rain.

Randolph was on thin ice a few weeks ago after making some comments in an interview about how he was being portrayed on the Mets' cable network and suggesting there might be a racial component to the criticism he was receiving.

The remarks drew the attention of New York ownership, which asked Randolph to make a public apology and then had a much-publicized meeting with the embattled manager.

Randolph made it out of that meeting unscathed, but reports again surfaced on Friday that his job was in jeopardy after the Mets dropped six of seven to the San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks.

He certainly did not do himself any harm on Friday, however, as New York posted a 7-1 triumph in the series opener against the Rangers. Oliver Perez allowed just one run and three hits while striking out eight in seven innings and drove in two runs with a single.

The Mets will send John Maine (6-4, 3.60 ERA) to the mound in the opener Sunday. The righthander is 1-2 over his last five starts and allowed three runs and five hits in five innings Tuesday against Arizona but did not factor in the decision.

The Rangers will counter with veteran Kevin Millwood (4-3, 4.91). The righthander got knocked around by the Kansas City Royals on Tuesday, allowing five runs and 11 hits in six innings, but did not factor in the decision.

Millwood owns an 11-12 record with a 4.85 ERA in 30 career interleague starts.