(My Sportsbook) - Kyle Davies hopes to pitch the
Kansas City Royals to their first three-game sweep in Arlington since 2003 this afternoon when they conclude their set with the
Texas Rangers at Rangers Ballpark.
After Gil Meche tossed six scoreless innings in Friday's series-opening win, Zack Greinke did him one better on Saturday, tossing his first major league shutout in the Royals' 2-0 triumph.
Greinke (3-0) scattered seven hits, struck out 10 without walking a batter and extended his scoreless-innings streak to 34 dating back to last season, while surpassing Kevin Appier's team-mark of 33 straight scoreless innings set during the 1993 season.
His streak this season stands at 20 innings through three starts.
Billy Butler gave Kansas City the only run it would need with an RBI double in the sixth, and Miguel Olivo hit a solo home run in the seventh as the Royals earned their fifth win in the last six games.
A win today would give KC its first three-game sweep in Arlington since turning the trick from July 11-13, 2003.
Kevin Millwood (1-1) also went the distance, surrendering just five hits and the two runs while walking three with as many strikeouts, but fell victim to his counterpart's record-setting evening.
Hank Blalock had two of the club's seven hits as the Rangers lost for the seventh time in eight chances following a season-opening sweep of the Indians.
Davies, meanwhile, picked up his first win of the season on Tuesday against Cleveland, as he held the Indians to three runs and seven hits in 5 2/3 innings to improve to 1-0 on the year to go along with a 2.13 ERA.
The 25-year-old righty, who tossed seven scoreless innings in his season- debut, is 0-3 lifetime versus the Tigers with a 5.89 ERA in four starts.
Texas will counter with right-handed veteran Vicente Padilla, who is 1-1 with a 10.00 ERA. After winning his first start of the year, Padilla was roughed up on Monday by the Baltimore Orioles, as he surrendered seven runs and 11 hits in 3 1/3 innings.
Padilla has faced the Royals four times and is 2-1 against them with a 4.79 ERA.
Texas won seven of its nine meetings with the Royals last season.
