(SportsNetwork.com) - Martin Perez tries to put one of the worst starts of his career behind him on Monday when the Texas Rangers start a two-game series against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
This is actually a four-game affair between the two clubs with the final two contests being played at Globe Life Park.
After throwing 26 scoreless innings to win three straight starts, Perez was hammered by the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday to the tune of eight runs in 4 2/3 innings, dropping him to 4-1 on the year to go along with a 2.95 ERA.
"Previous, everything he threw he put it where he wanted to," Texas manager Ron Washington said. "Tonight, when he missed his spot, it was in the middle of the plate."
Texas enters this series on the heels of taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim that culminated with a 14-3 shellacking in the finale. Yu Darvish threw 6 1/3 strong innings, while Michael Choice went 2- for-5 with a three-run homer and four RBI, Alex Rios hit a three-run triple and Prince Fielder finished with two doubles, two RBI and three runs scored for the Rangers, who banged out a season-high 14 hits in the win.
"We may not put up that many runs every day, but we certainly be more consistent," Washington said. "It was throughout the lineup, which is what we need."
Colorado, meanwhile, was denied a sweep in its four-game series with the New York Mets, as it dropped a 5-1 decision on Sunday.
Justin Morneau provided the Rockies' only run with a homer, and in a disappointing season debut, starter Jhoulys Chacin (0-1) allowed four runs on eight hits, while walking five through five frames.
"I wasn't commanding the fastball today," Chacin said. "I wasn't finishing my pitches, especially in the beginning."
Third baseman Nolan Arenado extended his hitting streak to 24 games in the loss, leaving him just behind Michael Cuddyer's 27-game run last season for the longest in team history.
Tonight, the Rockies turn to undefeated right-hander Jordan Lyles, who is 3-0 with a 2.70 ERA. Lyles did not get a decision on Wednesday in Arizona, but was sharp, as he allowed just a run and three hits in six innings of his team's 5-4 loss.
Lyles, though, has never beaten the Rangers in six starts, going 0-5 against them with a 9.82 ERA.
This is the Rangers' first trip to Coors Field since 2006 when they lost two of three to the Rockies. Texas, though, took two of three the last time these teams met back in 2012.
[SportsNetwork.com]
