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COL@TEX: Oswalt hurls 6 2/3 frames of one-run ball

ARLINGTON -- Roy Oswalt will be making his second start for the Rangers when he opposes right-hander Doug Fister for the Tigers on Wednesday night at the Ballpark in Arlington.

This will be Fister's first start against the Rangers since he beat them, 5-2, in Game 3 of the American League Championship Series. He went 7 2/3 innings, allowed two runs on seven hits, did not walk a batter and struck out three.

Oswalt made his debut with the Rangers last Friday against the Rockies and allowed one run in 6 2/3 innings. He didn't give up a run until a two-out triple by Dexter Fowler and a double by Marco Scutaro in the seventh, bringing his night to an end. The Rangers signed Oswalt to a free-agent contract on May 29 and brought him to the Major Leagues after four starts in the Minors.

"Last start was fun," Oswalt said. "The crowd was into it. A lot of fans showed up. I had a good outing. I wanted to get the last out. It ended on a sour note on that last pitch but I felt really well. My body responded pretty well."

This will be his first career start against the Tigers after spending his career in the National League with the Astros and Phillies. But he is familiar with the two biggest bats in the Tigers lineup. Prince Fielder is 5-for-36 with a home run and nine strikeouts against Oswalt while Miguel Cabrera is 3-for-15 with four strikeouts.

"I saw them (Monday) night," Oswalt said. "They've got a lot of big bats in that lineup. I've faced Fielder a bunch being in the same division. I've faced Cabrera a bunch when he was in Florida. So I kind of know how to approach those guys. But the other guys are going to be pretty new."

Oswalt's importance to the Rangers is growing. The Rangers had to put Colby Lewis on the disabled list with a strained right forearm. He joins Derek Holland and Neftali Feliz on the disabled list and manager Ron Washington said the Rangers would be scrambling without Oswalt.

"We've got a veteran," Washington said. "We've got a guy that knows how to win. We've got a guy that's not phased by the situation. We've got a guy that knows how to pitch. I think John and Nolan did a great job of trying to piece this thing together until we get healthy again. We're certainly hoping that Oswalt can be one of those pieces that holds things together. Having him and having Darvish and having Harry (Matt Harrison) healthy, we're going to be fine. "

Fister has twice been on the disabled list with a strained muscle in his left side. He is 1-1 with a 1.50 ERA in two starts since coming off the disabled list on June 16. He lost to the Pirates, 4-1, in his last start while allowing four runs, two earned, in six innings.

"It comes down to executing, and I did a poor job of that tonight," Fister said after the game. "I just wasn't together today. I need to do a better job."

Fister is 2-3 with a 4.38 ERA in six career starts against the Rangers. But he is 2-1 with a 2.91 ERA in his last three regular season starts against them.

Rangers notes
• Craig Gentry is available again after being bothered the past four days by a sprained right ankle. He was used as a defensive replacement in Tuesday's game.

• Left-handed reliever Michael Kirkman and right-handed reliever Mark Lowe are still likely unavailable to pitch tonight. Kirkman went five innings on Monday and Lowe pitched three innings. Martin Perez and Justin Grimm are in the bullpen but one of them is expected to start Saturday against the Athletics.

• Michael Young has a career .327 average against the Tigers.

Tigers: Injury might limit Avila's time behind the plate
• Alex Avila returned to the lineup on Tuesday after missing Monday's game and being diagnosed with patellar tendinitis in his left knee.

"He's playing today because he said he felt good," manager Jim Leyland said. "They gave him some heavy medication for the inflammation that really helped it during the game last night, and today he said he's ready to go."

He went 1-for-4 with a double on Tuesday, and has two hits in his last 18 at-bats since returning from the disabled list on June 21. Leyland said he might have to watch how much he puts Avila behind the plate.

"He might not catch as much as we want, but who knows," Leyland said. "I don't know that for sure. This medication might just knock it out. He might feel good for two months without any issues at all. I can't answer that."

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