(Sports Network) - The Texas Rangers have struggled versus the AL East this season and will try to at least earn a split of their four-game series with the last place Baltimore Orioles today at Camden Yards.
On Saturday, Josh Bell hit the first two home runs of his career in a four- homer barrage, as Baltimore staved off a late rally to down Texas, 8-6.
Bell finished 3-for-4 with three runs scored and a career-high five runs batted in while Ty Wigginton and Luke Scott also went deep for the Orioles, who have taken two of the first three games.
"This is something I'll remember for the rest of my life," Bell said. "My family that was watching, it was something for them."
Brad Bergesen (5-9) was the beneficiary of the power surge as he grabbed the win after going seven innings, during which he yielded five runs on nine hits and a pair of walks with three strikeouts. Koji Uehara tossed a scoreless ninth inning to earn his first career save, as Baltimore clinched the victory in the season series over Texas for the first time since 2004.
Cliff Lee (10-7) was victimized for a career-high four long balls and took the loss after allowing all eight runs on 10 hits over 5 2/3 frames. He walked one and fanned four for the Rangers, who have lost five of their last six.
Josh Hamilton went 3-for-5 with a home run and collected his major league- leading 23rd game with three hits or more, which also matched a Rangers single-season record.
Texas is now just 13-23 versus the AL East, a division that is looking to send two teams to the postseason.
Tommy Hunter will try to make that record look a little better, as he toes the rubber for Texas today. The right-hander, who began the year a perfect 8-0, has struggled in recent weeks. Over his last four starts, Hunter has a 9.39 ERA and has made it to the fourth inning in just one of those appearances. He faced Tampa Bay on Tuesday, allowing four earned runs and six hits in just three innings of a 10-1 loss.
In his lone career start against Baltimore on July 8, Hunter gave up three runs over six innings of work. He did not receive a decision in the team's 6-4 loss.
Kevin Millwood, who was traded from Texas in the offseason, will get the call for Baltimore today. The veteran right-hander hasn't picked up a win since defeating Florida on June 24, dropping five straight decisions along the way. He was solid on Tuesday, allowing one earned run over eight innings, but received no support in a 4-0 loss to Seattle.
In two career starts versus the Rangers, Millwood is 0-1 with a 3.21 ERA over 14 innings.
Baltimore has won eight of its last 11 meetings with the Rangers.