Sports Network | June 20, 2010
(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers will try to complete the sweep over the Houston Astros when the two teams collide this afternoon in the finale of a three-game set at Minute Maid Park.
The Rangers will send C.J. Wilson to the hill and he will be looking for his third win in his last four starts. The last time Wilson was in action he held Florida to just two runs on two hits and six walks in six innings. Despite the walks, Wilson had a solid effort, but did not factor in the decision.
Wilson has made 10 career appearances against Houston, but this is his first- ever start against the Astros. In his career against Houston, he has two saves in nine innings and a 5.00 earned run average.
The Astros will look to Felipe Paulino this afternoon, but the right-hander has struggled through a miserable season. Paulino has just one victory in 13 starts this season, and is coming off an embarrassing performance against Kansas City.
In the loss to the Royals, Paulino surrendered 10 runs -- eight earned -- in less than five innings of work.
This will be Paulino's second-ever start against Texas.
On Saturday, Colby Lewis hurled his first career complete game and Justin Smoak added a two-run home run and three RBI as Texas topped Houston, 5-1.
Michael Young added a solo homer for the Rangers.
Lewis (7-4) won for the third straight time by allowing just a pair of hits and one run, with nine strikeouts.
"I was in a similar situation as in my start in Seattle," said Lewis. "I was able to get my breaking ball over whenever I wanted to and that's a big part of my game."
Michael Bourn doubled and scored the lone run for the Astros, who slid to their seventh loss in eight tries.
"I've been feeling better out there," said Bourn. "When you're slumping sometimes you push the panic button and I haven't done that. I've just been taking it day by day."
Brian Moehler (0-4) was saddled with the loss despite allowing Smoak's two-run homer in the second inning. The right-hander did walk four and struck out three.
The Rangers claimed the Silver Boot, awarded to the winner of this six-game season series, last year by taking five of six from the Astros. That included a three-game sweep in Houston in which Texas outscored its in-state opponent 17-8.