Tampa Bay @ Texas preview

Tampa Bay at Texas

Last Meeting ( Jun 4, 2010 ) Tampa Bay 6, Texas 9

For some reason, the Texas Rangers always seem to get the best of the Tampa Bay Rays. Last year, Texas won six of nine games, including posting a 5-1 mark at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

And, in their first meeting this season on Friday, the Rangers again came out on top with a 9-6 victory in a three-game series opener in Texas.

Texas, which remains atop the AL west, will look to keep it going when it sends right-hander Tommy Hunter to the mound for his season debut.

The Rays, who are still the top-team in the AL East, will counter with right-hander James Shields in a game that will be nationally televised on FOX.

On Friday, the Rangers used a seven-run fourth inning - highlighted by a solo home run from Josh Hamilton and a three-run double from Vladimir Guerrero - to overcome an early four-run deficit.

When the frame was over, the Rangers had scored seven runs on seven hits and sent 11 batters to the plate. That was the most hits and runs in an inning for the Rangers since they had plated 11 on nine hits on Sept. 26, 2009. That came against the Rays, of course.

Outside of Hamilton and Guerrero, Justin Smoak also had a big offensive night, going 3-for-3 with two runs scored and two RBIs. Smoak blasted a two-run home run in the second inning, which gave him six blasts on the year – the most among American League rookies.

Michael Young had a two-run single in the fourth, and has now hit safely in 18 of his last 19 games.

While the offense was the story of the game after scoring nine runs for the third time in its past four games, the Rangers are counting on Hunter to make a solid season debut.

Hunter is scheduled to start in place of left-hander Derek Holland, who is on the disabled list with left rotator cuff inflammation. Hunter has gone 1-2 with a 4.05 ERA in last six starts at Triple-A Oklahoma City. But Hunter did have success in two starts against the Rays last year, going 1-0 with a 3.48 ERA.

Shields, meanwhile, will look to rebound after his worst start of the season. He gave up seven runs on 11 hits over 5 1/3 innings to the White Sox.

Against the Rangers, Shields has pitched well, going 2-1 with a 4.82 ERA in four career starts.

But, going back to the Rays struggles in Texas, the starters have gone 0-6 with a 10.63 ERA in their last seven starts at Rangers Ballpark.

Regardless, the Rays still have won 21 of 28 road games this year.