(My Sportsbook) - Japanese-born right-hander Koji Uehara looks for a second win in as many major league starts tonight when the Baltimore Orioles visit the Texas Rangers for the opener of a three-game series at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

A 34-year-old of Neyagawa, Japan, Uehara pitched well in relief for the Yomiuri Giants in 2008, saving 32 games before coming to America to join the Orioles this spring on a two-year contract.

He officially opened his American League stint with Baltimore last week against the New York Yankees, allowing five hits and a run in five innings of a 7-5 triumph.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder threw 86 pitches against the Yankees, walking one and striking out none.

For the Rangers, veteran right-hander Vicente Padilla looks to make it two straight wins to start 2009.

The 31-year-old Nicaraguan struck out five and walked three in 5 2/3 innings against Cleveland last week, scoring an 8-5 decision after throwing 109 pitches and allowing three earned runs.

The win was his 87th in an 11-season big-league career that started when he pitched in five games with the Arizona Diamondbacks in 1999.

He later reached double-digit wins in two seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, then established a career-high with 15 triumphs for the Rangers in 2006.

Padilla was 0-2 against the Orioles in 2008, allowing 14 earned runs and 17 hits in 6 2/3 innings.

On Sunday in Baltimore, James Shields pitched seven shutout innings and the Tampa Bay Rays crushed the Orioles, 11-3, at Camden Yards.

Adam Jones doubled as part of a 2-for-4 day for the Orioles, who, despite the loss, have won their first two series of a season for the first time since 1998. Luke Scott and Felix Pie each had an RBI in the defeat.

Adam Eaton (0-1) made his Orioles debut, although he lasted just four innings, allowing four runs on eight hits and two walks, with six strikeouts, while throwing 100 pitches.

In Detroit, Brandon Inge went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI as the Tigers scored six runs off the Rangers' bullpen in the bottom of the eighth inning to down Texas, 6-4, and sweep a three-game series at Comerica Park.

Left-hander C.J. Wilson (0-1) relieved Kevin Millwood to begin the bottom of the eighth, and suddenly Detroit's bats came to life after being quiet for the first seven frames.

Millwood pitched seven innings of shutout baseball for Texas, striking out six batters while allowing just four hits. Wilson gave up six runs -- three earned -- on four hits to take the loss.