Rangers at Orioles
Nick Solak hasn't been able to make a significant impact on his team's fortunes in the win-loss column since his promotion, but the Texas Rangers might not want to think where they would without him. Coming off his first career multi-RBI performance, the 24-year-old tries to stay hot at the plate Friday when the Rangers meet the Orioles for the second of four games in Baltimore.
Texas managed only one hit through six innings Thursday before Elvis Andrus opened the seventh with a single and Solak - hitting cleanup for the first time in 16 major-league games - followed with a two-run blast to power the Rangers to a 3-1 victory. Although Texas (69-73) is only 7-9 in 16 games he has played since making his debut on Aug. 20, Solak is batting .321 with three doubles, one triple, two home runs, and seven RBIs. Trey Mancini had a double and two singles as the Orioles outhit the Rangers 10-5 in the opener, but a 0-for-13 effort with runners in scoring position sent them to their fifth setback in six tries. At 46-94, Baltimore is one win away from last year's win total but only six defeats from losing 100 games in consecutive seasons since 1953-54.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Southwest (Texas), MASN 2 (Baltimore)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Rangers LH Brock Burke (0-1, 1.50 ERA) vs. Orioles RH Dylan Bundy (6-13, 4.96)
Burke has logged a quality start in each of his first three career major-league outings but remained winless despite allowing two runs over six innings in a no-decision against Seattle on Saturday. Manager Chris Woodward told MLB.com prior to Thursday's game he was considering limiting the pitch count of the 23-year-old, who has thrown at least 94 pitches in each of his turns. Burke is holding opponents to a .203 average in the big leagues as he faces Baltimore for the first time.
Bundy takes a three-game unbeaten streak into September after settling for a no-decision Saturday during which he gave up four runs (three earned) and fanned seven in six frames. The Oklahoma native limited the opposition to three earned runs or fewer in five of his six outings last month but could manage only a 1-2 record. Shin-Soo Choo is 3-for-6 with a pair of solo homers against Bundy, who earned the victory at Texas on June 4 after permitting three runs over five innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Rangers struck out six times Thursday and own a major league-high 1,401 this season.
2. Baltimore 3B Hanser Alberto is batting a majors-best .417 against left-handers this year. His 80 hits against southpaws are also the best in the majors.
3. Texas C Jose Trevino has hit safely in five of his last six starts, batting .350 in those games.