=== Texas Rangers Team Report - June 2 ===

(My Sportsbook) - The Texas Rangers dropped their third straight game on Sunday thanks to a 5-4 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in the finale of their four-game set at Camden Yards.

Alex Rodriguez homered while Carl Everett and Ruben Sierra both notched two hits and a run scored for Texas, which lost its fourth game in its last five tries.

Francisco Cordero (2-5) suffered the loss. He allowed two runs on three hits in 1 1/3 relief innings. He was also saddled with his sixth blown save.

After an off-day on Monday, the Rangers resume action tomorrow when they open the interleague play portion of their schedule with a three-game set against the Atlanta Braves at Turner Field.

Taking the hill in the opener for the Rangers will be righthander Ismael Valdes, who spent the first eight years of his career in the Senior Circuit. Valdes, 5-2 this season with a 4.98 ERA, has won his last three starts since returning from the disabled list.

In his last outing, the 29-year-old hurler allowed two runs on four hits over 4 2/3 innings in his team's 8-4 win over the Orioles on Thursday.

Valdes has made 11 starts against the Braves in his career and is 4-4 against them with a 3.42 ERA.

Since the inception of interleague play in 1997, the Rangers have posted a 52-52 mark against the National League. Last year they were swept in three games in Texas against the Braves.