• Preview
• Bleachers

Rangers-White Sox Preview

May 10, 2009 - 5:07 AM By DAN PIERINGER STATS Writer

Texas (16-13) at Chicago (13-15), 2:05 p.m. EDT

The Texas Rangers were one of the hottest offensive teams in the major leagues before being quieted by the Chicago White Sox in their last game.

Texas could have a hard time bouncing back if its recent history against Bartolo Colon is any indication.

Colon looks to win his 13th straight start against the Rangers on Sunday in the finale of a three-game series.

Texas (16-14) was sixth in the majors with 43 runs and first with 91 hits from May 1-8, during which it won six of eight. The Rangers, though, didn't have much success against White Sox pitching on Saturday night, totaling seven hits in the 3-2 defeat.

To avoid consecutive losses, the Rangers will need to end their skid against Colon (2-2, 4.05 ERA). The veteran right-hander and 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner has posted a 2.50 ERA while winning 12 straight starts against Texas since Aug. 21, 2003.

Colon, who has struck out 66 while giving up only 58 hits over 82 2-3 innings during the streak, last pitched against the Rangers on May 12, 2007, when he played for the Los Angeles Angels.

"What I do against them, there is no way to explain," Colon said after that game.

Colon appears to have a good chance at extending the streak at U.S. Cellular Field, where he hasn't given up an earned run in two starts this year. He could, however, use a little more help from his teammates.

Colon held Kansas City to two earned runs while striking out seven in five innings Monday, but he still suffered the 3-0 road defeat. He's gotten two total runs of support over 15 innings while going 1-2 in his last three starts.

His focus Sunday will be on continuing his dominance of the Rangers, but it might not be surprising to see Colon send a message after some fireworks in Saturday's game.

White Sox closer Bobby Jenks threw behind Ian Kinsler in the ninth inning after two Chicago players were hit by pitches earlier. In five games this season, the Rangers have hit six White Sox batters. Chicago has hit two Texas batters.

"Our guys have been hit a lot this series, definitely in a one-run game didn't want to put anyone on base," said Jenks, who's 7-for-7 in save chances. "Just wanted to send a message and say hey we can play that game, too."

Rangers outfielder David Murphy didn't rule out more retaliation in the series finale.

"It definitely looked like it was on purpose," he said of Jenks' pitch behind Kinsler. "That's part of the game. Things like that happen. ... It's kind of one of those things we'll wait and see what happens down the road."

Vicente Padilla (1-2, 5.71) will take the ball for the Rangers in search of his first win since his season debut April 8. The right-hander held Seattle to one hit and one unearned run over eight innings Tuesday, but the Rangers' offense didn't do much until a six-run 10th inning in the 7-2 victory.

Padilla is 1-2 with a 3.94 ERA in five career starts against the White Sox, whom he hasn't faced since April 2007.