Baltimore @ Texas preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 2, 2018 ) Baltimore 8, Texas 17

The Texas Rangers produced their top offensive showing of the campaign in the series opener and look to duplicate the effort when they host the Baltimore Orioles on Friday for the second contest of their four-game set. Texas recorded season highs in runs and hits (18) in Thursday's 17-8 victory, an assault that included three homers and seven doubles.

Rougned Odor became the fourth player since 1900 to homer and walk five times in a single game as he helped the Rangers win for the fifth time in six games. Jurickson Profar homered and drove in four runs and Joey Gallo went deep for the 27th time this season while Odor and Elvis Andrus each recorded three RBIs. Mark Trumbo, Trey Mancini and Caleb Joseph each homered in the opener for Baltimore, which lost for just the second time in six contests. The Orioles have lost 12 of their last 13 road games and are a major league-worst 13-41 away from home.

TV: 8:05 p.m. ET, MASN2 (Baltimore), FS Southwest (Texas)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Orioles RH David Hess (2-5, 5.94 ERA) vs. Rangers RH Ariel Jurado (1-1, 4.22)

Hess is making his 10th start of the season but first since losing to the Los Angeles Angels on June 29. The 25-year-old went 0-3 with a 10.70 ERA in a four-start span to lose his spot in the rotation and briefly was demoted to Triple-A Norfolk for three outings before returning to the majors. Hess pitched a hitless inning of relief against Tampa Bay on Saturday in his first appearance since being recalled.

Jurado defeated Houston in his second career start, allowing just one run and two hits over six innings. The 22-year-old outdueled Astros ace Justin Verlander in the 7-3 victory but departed after throwing 76 pitches. Jurado's first major-league outing took place on May 19, when he gave up four runs and six hits over 4 2/3 frames in a loss to the Chicago White Sox.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Rangers signed former Orioles RHP Chris Tillman to a minor-league contract on Thursday.

2. Baltimore SS Tim Beckham has recorded two three-hit performances in his last four games and is 9-for-24 over the last six contests.

3. Andrus is 21-for-55 with 12 runs scored during a 13-game hitting streak that is the longest active run in the majors.

PREDICTION: Rangers 10, Orioles 7