Texas Vs. Detroit 6-6-11
Josh Hamilton's return has certainly sparked the Texas Rangers offensively, but one of baseball's best lineups hasn't been asked to do too much lately.
The Rangers have given up six runs and posted three shutouts during five consecutive wins, a streak that began with an outstanding performance Colby Lewis hopes to replicate in Monday's opener against a visiting Detroit Tigers team looking for its seventh win in eight games.
Hamilton had 12 RBIs in 12 games upon returning from the disabled list, but manager Ron Washington gave the reigning AL MVP a day off Sunday in Cleveland.
Texas' offense didn't need him. The Rangers' third shutout so far in June came courtesy of C.J. Wilson and two relievers, a 2-0 victory that finished off a four-game sweep of the AL Central-leading Indians.
This is the third time this season Texas (34-26) has posted back-to-back shutouts. The Rangers last had three in a row May 7-9, 2008.
"Our pitchers have led the way the last few weeks," designated hitter Michael Young said. "That's the way it has to be if we're going to get where we want to go. If our pitchers keep pitching like this, I like our chances."
The stellar streak began when Lewis (5-5, 3.48 ERA) took the hill Wednesday in Tampa. The right-hander held the Rays to four hits over eight innings, striking out eight, in a 3-0 victory.
Lewis is 4-2 with a 2.04 ERA in seven starts after opening the season 1-3 with a 6.95 ERA.
"The biggest thing is my fastball command," said Lewis. "When I'm able to command my fastball, it makes all my other pitches better. Right now I feel comfortable out there, and everything is going well."
Lewis was 2-1 with a 4.66 ERA in three starts versus Detroit (31-27) last season, and it was AL Rookie of the Year runner-up Austin Jackson that gave him the most trouble. Jackson went 5 for 10 with a homer against Lewis.
Jackson got the Tigers started in a big fourth inning Sunday in Chicago. His single was one of six hits - Ryan Raburn's grand slam was the key blow - in a six-run inning, sparking a 7-3 win that pulled Detroit within 2 1/2 games of Cleveland.
Raburn was in a 6-for-52 slump before the slam, but he has hit safely in five consecutive games.
"I'm getting close," he said. "Consistency is still not there but I feel a lot better and as long as I can keep getting that one hit, hopefully it will turn into two or three hits."
Facing the Rangers could help. Raburn's a .383 (18 for 47) career hitter against Texas, and had seven RBIs in his last three games in Arlington in 2010 - including a pair of doubles against Lewis.
Max Scherzer (6-2, 4.38) is 2-0 with a 2.42 ERA in four starts - all quality - against the Rangers, but his two most recent outings have been dismal. The right-hander gave up seven runs in two innings May 26 in a 14-1 loss to Boston, then surrendered seven over 6 2-3 before leaving without a decision in Tuesday's 8-7 win over Minnesota.
Scherzer's ERA has gone up nearly a run and a half in those two starts.
Young, who's 4 for 11 with three extra-base hits against Scherzer, has a 15-game hitting streak versus Detroit in which he's hitting .443 with 16 RBIs.
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