Baltimore @ Texas preview

Baltimore at Texas

Last Meeting ( Jul 20, 2013 ) Baltimore 7, Texas 4

The Baltimore Orioles are flexing their offensive muscles, while the Texas Rangers continue to get sand kicked in their faces. Winners of six of their last seven contests, the Orioles look to complete a three-game series sweep of the host Rangers on Sunday. Adam Jones went deep to reach the 20-homer plateau for the third consecutive season as Baltimore belted out 17 hits en route to a 7-4 triumph on Saturday.

The Orioles (55-43) are 12 games over .500 and sit just 3 1/2 behind American League East-leading Boston. Texas, on the other hand, has dropped six of seven but remains only two games behind AL West-leading Oakland. A.J. Pierzynski registered a three-hit performance for the second time in four games for the Rangers.

TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, MASN (Baltimore), FSN Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH Chris Tillman (11-3, 3.95 ERA) vs. Rangers LH Martin Perez (3-2, 3.00)

Tillman responded from his first loss in nearly two months by picking up the win following a quality start versus Toronto on July 12. The 25-year-old, who was a late addition to the All-Star team, has won two of three outings against Texas while limiting the Rangers to just a .205 batting average. Tillman has been particularly impressive on the road, posting a 6-1 mark while yielding just four homers in eight starts.

Perez defeated the Orioles on July 9 despite permitting four runs on six hits in as many innings. The 22-year-old Venezuelan struggled again in his next start five days later, allowing a season-high five runs on four hits - three homers - over 5 2/3 frames in a 5-0 loss to Detroit. Perez has yet to surrender an earned run in two home starts this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Texas LF David Murphy collected three hits on Saturday, matching the total of his previous six contests. He's 2-for-9 in his career versus Tillman.

2. After going 1-for-17 with 11 strikeouts against his former team, Orioles 1B Chris Davis went 2-for-5 with an RBI single on Saturday.

3. Baltimore LF Nolan Reimold is slated to have a season-ending second surgery next week to correct a spinal fusion issue. He had the first procedure last June, but his spine didn't fuse properly.

PREDICTION: Orioles 4, Rangers 2