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Rangers-Astros Preview

May 23, 2009 - 5:49 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

Texas (23-17) at Houston (18-21), 4:10 p.m. EDT

Vicente Padilla is the latest starting pitcher from the Texas Rangers to go on the disabled list. Overcoming those injuries has been made easier with Scott Feldman leaving the bullpen and Frank Francisco leading it.

With Francisco back closing games, Feldman looks to continue his success since joining the rotation as the Rangers play the middle game of their interleague series with the Houston Astros on Saturday.

Texas (24-17) placed Padilla to the 15-day DL on Friday with a shoulder injury. He joins Eric Hurley, a former first-round pick who was a candidate to start this season before surgery in January to repair a torn rotator cuff.

Former No. 1 overall draft pick Kris Benson (elbow) was placed on the DL on April 22 and activated May 6, only to be relegated to the bullpen with Feldman (2-0, 4.04 ERA) pitching so well in his place. Feldman is 2-0 with a 2.17 ERA in five outings after beginning the season as a reliever.

The right-hander gave up four hits in six innings Sunday in a 3-0 win over the Los Angeles Angels.

Feldman has no record in five appearances - one start - against the Astros, posting a 5.79 ERA.

Francisco, who earned a save in Feldman's first start on April 25, has been the most dominating part of a bullpen that has helped the Rangers compensate for the injured starters. He pitched the 10th inning Friday, hours after coming off the DL, and earned his 10th save in 10 tries in the 6-5 victory.

Francisco, who went on the DL with right biceps tendinitis May 16, has not allowed a run in 15 2-3 innings, striking out 15 and posting a .145 opponents' batting average.

He secured Texas' first win in four games after Nelson Cruz homered with one out in the 10th, sending Houston (18-22) to its third loss in four games.

Cruz, who connected for the ninth time this season, is 5 for 11 (.454) with two homers and four RBIs in his last three games.

Texas' lineup also welcomed back All-Star center fielder Josh Hamilton after missing three games with a strained left groin. Hamilton went 1 for 5, lowering his average to .237.

He's trying to get back on track after a breakthrough 2008, when he hit .304 with 32 homers and 130 RBIs.

"I need his presence in the lineup," Rangers manager Ron Washington told the team's official Web site.

Texas will now face Brian Moehler (1-2, 7.71), who is 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA in three starts after a terrible April.

The right-hander earned a win in his last outing, surrendering three runs and five hits in five innings of a 6-5 win over the Chicago Cubs on Sunday. It his first victory since Sept. 10 against Pittsburgh.

Moehler is 6-4 with a 4.63 ERA in 10 starts and two relief appearances versus the Rangers.

Houston will try to give Moehler some run support after coming up just short Friday, tying the game with two runs in the seventh before getting shut out the rest of the way.

"Our team did a good job coming back from being five down, but we still have to put up a zero and keep the other team from scoring," said Astros reliever LaTroy Hawkins, who gave up Cruz's homer.

Houston's bullpen has a 5.79 ERA in its last three games.