Lee sets career highs!

In today’s start against the Orioles Texas Rangers ace Cliff Lee surrendered four home runs in his shortest outing of the season snapping 21 consecutive start starts with at least 6 innings.  He made it through 5.2 innings giving up 10 hits with 8 runs, 1 walk, and 4 strikeouts.  The loss today dropped Lee’s record to 10-7 3.09 ERA.

The Rangers are in the midst of a 4 game series against the Orioles, so far in three games the Rangers have lost two of them and have seemed to be in somewhat of a slump.  They still hold a 7 game lead in the American League West with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Oakland Athletics.  Seven games is quite a lead, but the Rangers do not need to be losing to last place team in the A.L. East.

Granted the Orioles have been a completely different team since former Rangers manager Buck Showalter has taken over the helm.  Since Showalter took over the Orioles have gone 12-7 quite an improvement over their 30-70 before he started.  Granted they are not going to make it to the playoffs this season, but the front office views Showalter as more of a long term solution.

The Rangers will face a familiar foe in Kevin Millwood 2-13 5.49ERA.  It is kind of humerous, the Rangers shipped him to Baltimore to free up payroll.  He has struggled throughout this entire season.  The Rangers sent Cliff Lee to the mound today, and he had his worst start of the season on the same mound Millwood has struggled all season.

The Rangers have struggled this month, but in every season there are going to be slumps.  The Rangers need to just play .500 ball to get through the rest of season and get prepared for the playoffs.  The Rangers will send Tommy Hunter 9-2 3.71ERA to face off against Millwood at 12:35pm tomorrow.