Texas @ Houston preview
Minute Maid Park
Last Meeting ( Jun 18, 2009 ) Houston 5, Texas 3
The Texas Rangers and Houston Astros begin the 2010 Lone Star Series on Friday night, and the coveted Silver Boot Trophy - as well as state pride - is on the line.
The Rangers currently hold the Silver Boot after winning last year’s series 5-1 and will try to take it for the third consecutive year.
Texas sends right-hander Scott Feldman to the hill while the Astros will counter with left-hander Wandy Rodriguez in the three-game series opener tonight.
Feldman, who has struggled for most of the season, had his best outing of the year in his last start, throwing six scoreless innings in the Rangers’ 4-3 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday. Feldman allowed four hits with three walks and six strikeouts.
But, on the road this season, Feldman is 2-4 with a 6.03 ERA. In two career starts against Houston, Feldman is 1-0 with a 4.22 ERA. In his start last year at Minute Maid Park, Feldman went 6 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on five hits with two walks and five strikeouts to lead the Rangers to a 6-3 victory.
Offensively, the Rangers are coming off a solid series in which Michael Young became the franchise’s all-time hits leader. On Thursday, Young had another hit and an RBI. Ian Kinsler added two hits and Vladimir Guerrero belted his 15th home run and now has 55 RBIs this season.
The Astros, meanwhile, will look to Rodriguez to rebound after giving up eight runs on seven hits with five walks and four strikeouts over five innings to the New York Yankees in his last outing.
In four lifetime starts against Texas, Rodriguez is 3-1 with a 5.01 ERA with 23 strikeouts in 23 1/3 innings pitched. In his lone start against the Rangers last year, Rodriguez lasted only four innings, allowing six runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts.
Offensively, the Astros are coming off a series in which they lost two of three to the lowly Kansas City Royals.
Houston managed only six hits on Thursday, including two apiece from Lance Berkman and Hunter Pence. And, the Astros went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left five runners on base.
Finally, the Rangers have won five of the last six Lone Star Series, including three on the run differential tiebreaker.
Overall, Texas has a 28-26 edge in the all-time series record against Houston. And, most relevant to this series, the Rangers had a three-game sweep in Houston last season.