All Offense
Baltimore, MD – If the Baltimore Orioles forgot about the power of Michael Young and the rest of the Texas Rangers, they got a painful reminder of it in this weekend’s series opener.
Mark Hendrickson likely needs no reminding.
The Orioles left-hander takes another shot at slowing down the Young and the Rangers’ bats Saturday night as these teams continue their four-game set at Camden Yards.
Oddsmakers from online sportsbook Sportsbook.com have made the Orioles -120 moneyline favorites for Saturday’s game against the Rangers. Current MLB Public Betting Information shows that 63% of more than 106 bets for this game have been placed on the Orioles -120.
Baltimore (8-9) took two of three from the Rangers (7-9) at Arlington earlier this month, when Hendrickson took the lone loss – a 19-6 drubbing April 15. The 6-foot-9 Hendrickson gave up nine runs – two earned – and seven of Baltimore’s 19 hits in a season-low 3 2-3 innings.
Rangers second baseman Ian Kinsler had six of those hits, including a cycle, in that win. Young, his double-play partner, went hitless but scored twice and is 4-for-11 with a homer and three RBIs lifetime versus Hendrickson.
Young, who had two homers and four RBIs in the earlier series, followed Kinsler’s two-out single in the ninth inning Friday with a two-run homer off Orioles closer George Sherrill to rally Texas to a 5-4 win.
"I tell you, Mike is becoming this team’s leader big-time," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "Every club has a star guy that when you need him, he steps up. He’s been stepping up for us big-time. He’s becoming a superstar. He certainly saved us tonight. I wish I could kiss him.”
Young has five homers and nine RBIs in his last 10 games.
"The biggest thing I’m trying to do is shrink the strike zone a bit, get a good pitch to hit and not try to do too much with it,” he said. "I’m not trying to hit the ball out. I’m just trying to hit the ball hard."
Hank Blalock added his fourth homer of the season Friday as Texas improved its major-league best home run total to 31.
Hendrickson (1-2, 3.86 ERA) makes his first start since a 12-1 loss to Boston on Monday, when he gave up three runs in five innings.
Scott Feldman (0-0, 12.15) comes out of the bullpen to make his first start of the season for the Rangers. The right-hander lost his starting spot in spring training to veteran Kris Benson, but will get the ball Saturday after Benson landed on the 15-day disabled list this week with tendinitis in his right elbow.
Feldman who went 6-8 with a 5.29 ERA in 25 starts for the Rangers last season, gave up three runs in 2 2-3 innings of relief during a 10-9 loss to Baltimore on April 13.
Orioles right fielder Nick Markakis extended his hitting streak to 12 after Friday’s fourth-inning single. He has reached base safely in 25 consecutive games, the longest active streak in the major leagues.
Brian Roberts added his first homer of the season for the Orioles, but Baltimore failed to score after his fifth-inning long ball and suffered its seventh loss in nine games after a 6-2 start.
"It would have been a good one to win and it was a tough one to lose,” manager Dave Trembley said. "They got the hits at the end. We needed one more out, we needed one more pitch.”
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Posted: 4/25/09 12:40AM ET
