Former Texas cleanup hitter Mark Teixeira played every game in his final two seasons with the team. The Rangers understood they weren't likely to get that kind of durability when they replaced him with Milton Bradley.
After losing in Teixeira's return to Texas, the Braves look to take advantage of a Rangers team that may be without Bradley as the teams play the middle game of their series Wednesday night.Teixeira faced Texas (36-36) for the first time since being traded to Atlanta (35-37) last season, and went 0-for-2 with a walk as the Braves lost 7-5 on Tuesday night.
The veteran first baseman is the Braves' No. 4 hitter and often hit in that spot for the Rangers, who drafted him fifth overall in 2001. He played 162 games for the Rangers in 2005 and 2006.
"He played hurt, played hard and played to win," Texas shortstop Michael Young said. "As a teammate, you can't ask for much more than that."
The Rangers acquired a new cleanup hitter in the offseason, signing Bradley as a free agent in January. The designated hitter is certainly talented - he leads the American League with a .330 batting average - but he has played in over 100 games just twice in last eight seasons, getting sidetracked by various injuries.
On Tuesday, Bradley had a two-run single on the same play he sustained a slight left quadriceps strain running the bases, and his status for Wednesday's game is uncertain. Texas said he would be re-evaluated Wednesday.
Bradley has 15 home runs, 20 doubles and 48 RBIs. The Rangers took a chance on Bradley even though he tore the ACL in his right knee at the end of last season.
"He's been huge," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I said he was going to be my cleanup guy even before we knew if he could get on the field."
Bradley helped the Rangers reach the .500 mark for the 11th time in a month. But Texas has won its next game only twice during that stretch.
The Rangers, who have scored seven runs or more in three of their last six games, will now face Braves starter Jo-Jo Reyes (3-4, 4.42 ERA). He has given up three runs or less in three of his last four outings.
The 23-year-old left-hander earned a win in his last start, allowing two runs and five hits in eight innings as Atlanta beat the Los Angeles Angels 5-2 on Friday night. He has won each of his two interleague starts, posting a 2.77 ERA.
This will be Reyes' first appearance against Texas.
The Rangers will counter with Eric Hurley (0-0, 6.00 ERA), who is coming off his first major league start, allowing four runs and six hits in six innings as Texas lost 6-5 to Kansas City on Thursday.
The 22-year-old right-hander, a 2004 first-round pick, was 2-5 with a 5.30 ERA in 13 starts at Triple-A Oklahoma before being called up Wednesday.
Hurley will be trying to shut down Atlanta and NL leading hitter Chipper Jones, who went 0-for-2 with two walks in the series opener. His average dropped three points to .400.
