AT
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington
Game 1: Monday, April 13th, 2009
First Pitch: 8:05pm (EST)
Probable Starters: Koji Uehara (1-0, 1.80), RHP (Orioles) / Vicente Padilla (1-0, 4.76), RHP (Rangers)
Orioles: Uehara was impeccable in his big-league debut, throwing first-pitch strikes to nine of the first 13 batters and keeping the powerful Yankees lineup in check. Uehara allowed five hits in five innings on a night when he couldn't really grip the seams of the baseball, a fact that forced him to ditch his curveball. The right-hander survived just fine with his fastball and split-finger and got seven of his 15 outs on fly balls. But in Texas, a well known offensive playground, those fly balls might not come back.
Rangers: Padilla snapped a six-game winless streak at home with an 8-5 victory over the Indians on Wednesday. He allowed three runs on four hits, walked three and struck out five. His curveball was erratic and the Indians laid off his split-finger fastball but Padilla had an excellent fastball. Padilla lost two starts to the Orioles last year while allowing 14 earned runs on 17 hits in 6 2/3 innings. He is 2-5 with an 8.60 ERA against the Orioles in his career. That's his highest ERA against any American League team.
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Game 2: Tuesday, April 14th, 2009
First Pitch: 8:05pm (EST)
Probable Starters: Alfredo Simon (0-1, 7.20), RHP (Orioles) / Brandon McCarthy (1-0, 5.40), RHP (Rangers)
Orioles: Simon pitched three shutout innings in his season debut, but then he allowed a pair of home runs in the fourth that turned the game around. The right-hander mostly used his fastball in that game after his off-speed offerings deserted him. Manager Dave Trembley said that Simon can get by with his fastball, but only when he's able to keep it down in the strike zone. Simon will be tested in his next start, which comes against the Rangers in one of the league's toughest offensive environments.
Rangers: McCarthy is pitching again, that's the big thing. He wasn't his sharpest in his season-opening start Thursday against Cleveland, but he did get the win, allowing three runs in five innings. He threw 105 pitches, a big improvement over seven in his most recent start, Sept. 15, 2008 against Detroit. His slider got him through a tough-hitting Indians lineup. His fastball will have to better against the Orioles. McCarthy had seven strikeouts against Cleveland -- he credited his slider -- but he had four walks and a hit batter.
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Game 3: Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
First Pitch: 8:05pm (EST)
Probable Starters: Mark Hendrickson (1-0, 1.69), LHP (Orioles) / Kris Benson (0-1, 12.60), RHP (Rangers)
Orioles: Hendrickson's debut as an Oriole on April 10 wasn't flashy, just effective. He held the Tampa Bay Rays in check, allowing only one run on six hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings and remained unbeaten in April since his last setback on April 27, 2006, while with the Rays. It'll be Hendrickson's first start at The Ballpark at Arlington, and he's got a lifetime 1-2 record with a 9.42 ERA in five games, including three starts, against the Rangers.
Rangers: Benson made his first start against the Tigers on Friday and allowed eight runs on 10 hits and two walks in five innings. The Rangers lost, 15-2. It was his first Major League appearance since Sept. 27, 2006. He will be making his first career appearance against the Orioles. Benson pitched for the Orioles in 2006 and went 11-12 with a 4.82 ERA. He also made his only start at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington on Aug. 30 of that year.
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