NewsFeldman will attempt to win 18th game
Texas (87-74) at Seattle (84-77), 3:10 p.m. CT
By T.R. Sullivan / MLB.com
10/04/09 12:33 AM EST
SEATTLE -- The Rangers and Mariners will send their aces to the mound for the final game of the season when Scott Feldman pitches against Felix Hernandez on Sunday afternoon at Safeco Field. Feldman, who has lost his last two starts, will be trying to become the 10th Rangers pitcher to win at least 18 games in a season and the first since 2004, when Kenny Rogers won 18. The last right-hander to win at least 18 was Rick Helling, who won 20 in 1998. The Rangers would just like Feldman to finish strong after allowing 11 runs in seven innings over his last two starts. "I think it would be very good for him and very good for us," manager Ron Washington said. "He has a heck of a challenge going against King Felix but he's had challenges all year and met them. Now, it would be nice for him to throw well for his own well-being." Either way, Feldman has exceeded all expectations this season in working his way out of the bullpen and to the top of the Rangers rotation. "We certainly didn't expect him to do what he has done for us," Washington said. "We didn't expect him to go 17-7. He did and he's earned it. He put himself on the map, now we'd like to see him progress. One year doesn't make you, you've got to come back and show it wasn't a fluke." Feldman has a 4.02 ERA. If he can bring that down, the Rangers will have two pitchers with an ERA of under 4.00 for the first time since 1993. Kevin Millwood has a 3.67 ERA. Roger Pavlik had a 3.41 ERA for the Rangers in 1993 and Kevin Brown had a 3.59. Pitching matchupTEX: RHP Scott Feldman (17-7, 4.102 ERA)
He is 12-3 with a 3.41 ERA on the road and 2-0 with a 2.25 ERA in three starts against the Mariners. The Rangers won all three games, including a 7-1 victory on May 12, when Feldman allowed just one run in 6 1/3 innings but wasn't involved in the decision. He gave up two runs in 6 2/3 innings in a 6-4 win on July 10 at Safeco and two runs in seven innings in a 4-2 victory on Aug. 2 in Arlington. SEA: RHP Felix Hernandez (18-5, 2.48 ERA)
Hernandez is 6-0 with a 1.68 ERA in his last seven starts. In 53 2/3 innings, he has struck out 38 and held opponents to a .200 average. He is 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA in five starts against the Rangers this season. Hernandez is second in the league in victories, opponents batting average and ERA and fourth in the league in strikeouts. He is 8-3 with a 3.08 ERA at home. Tidbits
Hank Blalock was out of the lineup for the third straight game on Saturday while still recovering from a mild concussion. There is a good chance he could be in the lineup on Sunday for the final game. ... Nelson Cruz will not play. He is done for the season with a sprained left ankle. ... Taylor Teagarden will be behind the plate. Ivan Rodriguez is one of several players down with the flu. Tickets
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T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com.
