(Sports Network) - Kevin Millwood makes his Seattle Mariners debut this
evening when they continue their four-game series with the Texas Rangers at
Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
After signing with the Mariners as a non-roster invitee, Millwood won a
rotation spot this spring by going 3-1 with a 2.57 earned run average. Seattle
becomes his seventh big league team in this his 16th season in the league.
Millwood, who pitched four of those seasons in Texas, has faced his former
team three teams and is 0-2 against them with a 4.95 ERA.
"I enjoyed my time here," Millwood said. "There's not a huge difference in the
guys over there. It's still pretty much the same team. But it's just another
game, really."
Texas, meanwhile, will counter with righty Colby Lewis, who won his season
debut. Lewis defeated the Chicago White Sox on Friday, holding them to a pair
of runs and seven hits in six innings. He also struck out nine and walked a
batter.
"Colby is fearless," Rangers outfielder David Murphy said after that win.
"He's not afraid to challenge guys, pound the strike zone and help his
defense. He keeps the ball down and works quickly. You love playing behind a
guy like that."
Since returning from Japan two years ago Lewis is 4-2 with a 2.45 ERA in seven
starts against the Mariners.
Lewis will be trying to match the terrific effort Neftali Feliz put forth on
Tuesday in his first big league start. Feliz worked seven scoreless innings
and Murphy drove in the lone run in the second inning as Texas eked out a 1-0
win.
Feliz (1-0) gave up four hits and walked two while fanning four for the
Rangers, who have taken the first two in the set and improved to 4-1 overall.
The 23-year-old Dominican and 2010 AL Rookie of the Year became just the third
Texas hurler to hold an opponent scoreless in his first start, following Steve
Comer in 1978 (Baltimore) and Brian Sikorski in 2000 (Yankees).
"Feliz was obviously the story tonight," Rangers catcher Mike Napoli said. "He
did a great job. It's only one start, but I think he answered some questions
on whether he can make the transition (from reliever to starter), but it was
really fun to watch him tonight."
Blake Beavan (0-1) was the hard-luck loser, allowing a single run on six hits
through 6 1/3 frames for the Mariners, who had won three of four before losing
the first two games of this series.
Jesus Montero had two hits in the loss for Seattle.
Texas was an incredible 15-4 last season versus the Mariners.
The Sports Network