Watch Royals Rangers live streaming mlb 4/24 radio commentary audio espn: playoffs, lineups, roaster. Last season, Bruce Chen revitalized his career at the age of 33, leading the Kansas City Royals in victories. He's proving that success wasn't an anomaly with a solid start to 2011.
Chen looks to remain unbeaten when he tries to help the Royals avoid being swept by the Texas Rangers on Sunday in Arlington.
3:05 PM ET, April 24, 2011
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Kansas City (12-9) is the 10th team for which Chen (3-0, 2.42 ERA) has played since breaking into the majors with Atlanta in 1998. After going 1-13 between 2006-09, the left-handed journeyman went 12-7 last season, leading the Royals in victories despite opening the year in the bullpen.
Chen has won seven straight decisions going back to last year, and has posted a 0.86 ERA in his last three starts. He yielded two runs in seven innings of a 5-4 home win over Cleveland on Tuesday.
The Royals tried to pull Chen after he gave up a single with a five-run lead in the seventh, but the bullpen phone didn't work and he allowed another two hits, including a two-run double.
Chen is making his first start against the Rangers (13-7) since 2006. He faced them once as a reliever last season, allowing one run and one hit in 1 2/3 innings.
Texas infielder Michael Young, who is 4 for 10 off Chen, had two of the Rangers' four hits and scored a run in Saturday's 3-1 victory.
Darren Oliver worked a perfect ninth for his fourth major league save in 602 career appearances, becoming the first Texas pitcher to earn a save after closer Neftali Feliz (right shoulder inflammation) landed on the disabled list earlier Saturday. At 40, Oliver also became the oldest pitcher ever to save a game for the Rangers.
"I figure if you're 40 years old, you're going to be in a lot of history books about something," he said.
The Rangers have won their last two games after losing six of eight.
Texas has won seven straight at home against Kansas City, which went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position Saturday. The Royals have dropped five of seven overall.
"We couldn't capitalize, and I'm speaking of myself," said designated hitter Billy Butler, who went 0 for 4.
Already assured of losing its first series of the season, Kansas City will try to avoid the sweep when it faces Rangers starter C.J. Wilson (2-0, 3.08).
Wilson had his best start of the young season Monday, giving up one run while striking out nine in seven innings of a 7-1 victory over the Angels.
"I felt a little bit more myself. I still don't feel like I'm all the way back to where I want to be yet," said Wilson, who lowered his ERA from 3.72. "I ended up throwing a ton of pitches. ... I was getting ahead of a lot of guys, but not able to put away everybody."
The left-hander was 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA in two starts against the Royals last season. He also has made 10 career relief appearances against them.
Chen looks to remain unbeaten when he tries to help the Royals avoid being swept by the Texas Rangers on Sunday in Arlington.
3:05 PM ET, April 24, 2011
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Arlington, Texas
Kansas City (12-9) is the 10th team for which Chen (3-0, 2.42 ERA) has played since breaking into the majors with Atlanta in 1998. After going 1-13 between 2006-09, the left-handed journeyman went 12-7 last season, leading the Royals in victories despite opening the year in the bullpen.
Chen has won seven straight decisions going back to last year, and has posted a 0.86 ERA in his last three starts. He yielded two runs in seven innings of a 5-4 home win over Cleveland on Tuesday.
The Royals tried to pull Chen after he gave up a single with a five-run lead in the seventh, but the bullpen phone didn't work and he allowed another two hits, including a two-run double.
Chen is making his first start against the Rangers (13-7) since 2006. He faced them once as a reliever last season, allowing one run and one hit in 1 2/3 innings.
Texas infielder Michael Young, who is 4 for 10 off Chen, had two of the Rangers' four hits and scored a run in Saturday's 3-1 victory.
Darren Oliver worked a perfect ninth for his fourth major league save in 602 career appearances, becoming the first Texas pitcher to earn a save after closer Neftali Feliz (right shoulder inflammation) landed on the disabled list earlier Saturday. At 40, Oliver also became the oldest pitcher ever to save a game for the Rangers.
"I figure if you're 40 years old, you're going to be in a lot of history books about something," he said.
The Rangers have won their last two games after losing six of eight.
Texas has won seven straight at home against Kansas City, which went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position Saturday. The Royals have dropped five of seven overall.
"We couldn't capitalize, and I'm speaking of myself," said designated hitter Billy Butler, who went 0 for 4.
Already assured of losing its first series of the season, Kansas City will try to avoid the sweep when it faces Rangers starter C.J. Wilson (2-0, 3.08).
Wilson had his best start of the young season Monday, giving up one run while striking out nine in seven innings of a 7-1 victory over the Angels.
"I felt a little bit more myself. I still don't feel like I'm all the way back to where I want to be yet," said Wilson, who lowered his ERA from 3.72. "I ended up throwing a ton of pitches. ... I was getting ahead of a lot of guys, but not able to put away everybody."
The left-hander was 2-0 with a 0.54 ERA in two starts against the Royals last season. He also has made 10 career relief appearances against them.