O's game blog: Andrew Cashner pitches series opener at Texas

ARLINGTON, Texas - After splitting two games in New York and snapping an 11-game road losing streak on Wednesday, the Orioles road trip has headed west. Tonight they begin a four-game series at Globe Life Park with the Texas Rangers.

The Orioles beat the Yankees 7-5 yesterday, have scored 47 runs the past five games and 72 in 11 games since the All-Star break. As a team since the break, the Orioles are batting .305 with an OBP of .368 and slugging .506. They rank first in the American League in all three categories. Their 72 runs are second to Oakland, which has scored 80 since the break.

The Orioles (33-75) have won four of five and five of their last seven games. They have gone 4-2 at Yankee Stadium this year and 9-38 in all other road games.

Right-hander Andrew Cashner (3-9. 4.33 ERA) will make his 21st Orioles start tonight. He has recorded six quality starts over his past nine games, going 1-3 with a 3.46 ERA. In his last start against Tampa Bay, he picked up his first win since May 21. He went six innings, allowing two runs on 90 pitches versus the Rays.

Lefty batters hit .270 against him and right-handers are batting .284. In nine road starts, Cashner is 2-4 with a 3.72 ERA.

Former Oriole Yovani Gallardo (5-1, 4.81 ERA) will make his 11th appearance and eighth start for Texas. Milwaukee signed Gallardo as a free agent last December, but released him March 26. Cincinnati signed him March 31 and he was designated for assignment by the Reds on April 10. Three days later, Texas signed Gallardo to a minor league contract.

He has put together back-to-back scoreless starts of a combined 11 1/3 innings, allowing five hits versus Cleveland and Houston. These are his first back-to-back scoreless starts since August of 2015 with Texas.

For the 2016 Orioles, Gallardo went 6-8 with a 5.42 ERA and 1.585 WHIP in 23 starts.

The Rangers (46-63) saw a four-game win streak snapped Tuesday with a loss to Arizona. But over longer stretches, Texas has lost nine of 14 and 14 of 21 games. Since June 16, the Rangers are a .500 team at 19-19. Texas is 20-34 at home and 4-6 against AL East teams.