• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Orioles' Bergesen faces rugged Rangers

Apr 26, 2009 - 4:16 AM By Matt Beardmore Stats Writer

Texas (8-9) at Baltimore (8-10), 1:35 p.m. EDT

BALTIMORE (AP) -- In his major league debut Tuesday, Baltimore Orioles right-hander Brad Bergesen did not give up a hit in the first three innings and earned the win. He might need even better stuff Sunday afternoon at Camden Yards as he takes on a Texas Rangers club that did plenty of damage in the first three innings on Saturday.

Called up from Triple-A Norfolk to replace the injured Alfredo Simon (right elbow ligament), Bergesen (1-0, 1.59 ERA) went 5 2-3 innings in Tuesday's 10-3 win over the Chicago White Sox, holding the defending AL Central champions to three runs and four hits.

"It was surreal," said Bergesen, the Orioles' 2008 minor league pitcher of the year. "Getting up there and getting that first pitch out of the way, it was everything that I thought it was going to be. I couldn't believe it."

On Sunday, the 23-year-old righty faces a Rangers team that leads the major leagues with 35 home runs. Texas (8-9) hit four in Saturday's 6-5 victory, including leadoff shots in the first three innings.

The last team to accomplish that was the Houston Astros on Oct. 2, 2004, versus Colorado.

"We have guys who hit the ball out of the ballpark. ... And I'm glad we did. It set the tone," Texas manager Ron Washington said after his team hit two or more homers for the 13th time this season.

Ian Kinsler led off the game with a homer then hit a two-run shot in the second after Chris Davis opened the frame with a home run.

"In baseball, stuff like that happens. One guy can kill you and I hope I can be that guy," said Kinsler, batting .560 (14-for-25) with four doubles, three homers and nine RBIs in five games against the Orioles this season. "It gets them in a hole in a hurry."

Andruw Jones hit his second home run of the season to lead off the third.

Josh Hamilton expects to play Sunday after leaving Saturday's game in the fifth inning with inflammation near the left side of his rib cage. He was hurt sliding into third.

Washington will give the ball to Brandon McCarthy, who will make his second start against the Orioles (8-10) this season. On April 14, the righty allowed three runs and five hits over six innings in a 7-5 loss.

In his last start, McCarthy (2-0, 4.76) had problems with his slider but picked up his second win of the season as Texas defeated Toronto 5-4 on Tuesday.

"He was able to make pitches when he had to and he kept the damage to a minimum," Washington said. "They scratched one run at a time off him."

McCarthy is 0-1 with a 2.25 ERA in three career starts against the Orioles.

Nick Markakis looks to extend his hitting streak to 13 after going 1-for-4 in Saturday's loss. Markakis has reached safely in 26 straight games, but is 0-for-7 with three strikeouts lifetime against McCarthy.

Aubrey Huff hit safely in four straight games prior to Saturday's 0-for-5 effort. Huff is 6-for-12 with two homers and four RBIs in his career versus McCarthy.