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TEX@SF: Harrison twirls a five-hit shutout vs. Giants

After mustering up just four hits Tuesday against Colby Lewis, the D-backs won't face any easier of a challenge Wednesday, when the scorching-hot Matt Harrison takes the mound for the Rangers in the second game of the Interleague series.

The left-hander has won four straight starts and is coming off a five-hit, no-walk shutout of the Giants in his last outing Friday. The previous Rangers pitcher to throw a shutout with no walks and five or fewer hits was Rick Helling on July 29, 2001, against Tampa Bay.

"He had a great night," Rangers manager Ron Washington said after Harrison's performance. "He stayed ahead of hitters all night, pounded the strike zone and the defense was outstanding."

The 26-year-old hasn't lost since May 12 against the Angels. He had pitched into the eighth inning three times this season before the shutout, but Washington never let him throw in the ninth.

"Hopefully this is something that will help establish him as one of the better pitchers in the league," Washington said. "He's been trying to finish ballgames. He's been mad when I take him out. I've felt his wrath. I told him if he wants to finish ballgames, he needs to get outs in the seventh and eighth innings. He went out there and got outs in the seventh and eighth innings."

Harrison lost his only previous career start against the D-backs, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits over 3 2/3 innings on June 23, 2009.

On the hill for the D-backs will be rookie sensation Wade Miley. With seven wins, the lefty leads all National League rookies in the category. In his last start, the 25-year-old tossed a career-high eight innings against the Rockies, surrendering just three hits and one run.

"I was just able to throw strikes throughout most of the night," Miley said after the game. "Getting ahead with the fastball, and they were swinging early. They were hitting some balls hard, but the guys in the outfield were running them down and making good plays."

Miley has never faced the Rangers, but in his only Interleague start, he shut out the Royals over seven innings.

Rangers: Ogando lands on DL
Right-hander Alexi Ogando was placed on the 15-day disabled list Tuesday after the club diagnosed him with a strained right groin muscle. He will be sidelined four to six weeks.

"It was a little more significant than we expected," general manager Jon Daniels said of Ogando's injury.

The Rangers called up Michael Kirkman from Triple-A Round Rock. They have not announced a starter for Saturday against the Astros, but it could be Kirkman.

"We're leaving it as TBA right now," Daniels said. "We've got a couple of options. We'll let it play out this week."

Ogando was injured while beating out a bunt base hit in Sunday's game against the Giants. The righty, who pitched three scoreless innings in the Rangers' 5-0 victory, was making a spot start for Derek Holland, who is also on the DL because of a stomach virus. Ogando had a 2.08 ERA through 34 2/3 innings this season.

D-backs: Kubel back as DH
Even though he hasn't enjoyed playing the position for the majority of his career, Jason Kubel welcomed the opportunity to serve as the designated hitter on Tuesday in the first of six straight games the D-backs will play in American League parks.

"I don't mind it one bit right now," Kubel said. "It's nice just to take it a little easy, I guess. It's half a day off, pretty much."

In his seven seasons with the Twins, Kubel appeared in 321 games as a DH, hitting .273 with a .796 OPS (on-base plus slugging).

"I know he's done it," Gibson said. "It's a little different mentality. Sometimes when you have an at-bat, you go out and play the field, it gets you to move on. When you're a DH, sometimes you've got nothing to do but think about your at-bat. He's done it before, he should be good for it."

Worth noting
• Paul Goldschmidt saw his career-best hitting streak end Tuesday at 17 games after an 0-for-3 night at the plate.

• The Rangers are 9-3 against the D-backs all-time at home, including six straight wins.

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