(My Sportsbook) - Dominican right-hander Alfredo Simon makes the third start of his major-league career tonight when the Baltimore Orioles visit the Texas Rangers for the second game of a three-game week-opening series at Rangers Park.

A 6-foot-4, 230-pounder, Simon made his 2009 debut on Thursday against the New York Yankees, allowing home runs to Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher over five innings of an 11-2 drubbing at Camden Yards.

He was touched for four hits and four runs in his stint, in which he walked two batters and struck out three.

Simon, who had an effective spring for the Orioles and posted a sub-2.00 ERA, actually reached the majors and appeared in four games last season, allowing 16 hits and nine earned runs in 13 innings.

He has never faced the Rangers.

For Texas, lanky right-hander Brandon McCarthy makes his second start in what he hopes will be a breakout 2009 following several injury disappointments.

Acquired by the Rangers from the Chicago White Sox after the 2006 season, the 6-foot-7, 200-pounder was 7-9 with 11 holds in 65 appearances with Chicago, but has managed just seven wins in 29 games - 28 starts- for Texas since.

He was 5-10 in 23 appearances in 2007, then appeared in just five games last season while battling forearm, shoulder and elbow trouble, pitching just 22 innings.

McCarthy got off to a successful start on April 9 this year, allowing four hits and three runs in five innings of a 12-8 defeat of the Cleveland Indians.

On Monday, Aubrey Huff went 4-for-5 and drove in three runs, while George Sherrill came in and shut the door in the ninth for his third save on the year, as Baltimore eked out a 10-9 win.

Nick Markakis and Ty Wigginton both had two hits and drove in a pair of runs for the Orioles.

Koji Uehara (2-0) got the win despite giving up seven runs on seven hits in five-plus innings. It was his second win in as many major league starts

Andruw Jones and Michael Young both hit two-run homers for the Rangers, who lost their fourth straight game. Chris Davis ended 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run scored in the setback.

Vicente Padilla (1-1) was saddled with the loss after giving up seven runs on 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings.

Texas won five of its nine matchups with the Orioles last season.