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(Sports Network) - The Philadelphia Phillies will try to escape the clutches of their recent skid when they battle the Texas Rangers in the second test of a three-game series at the Rangers Ballpark at Arlington.

Cole Hamels will take the bump tonight in hopes of turning the tide for the Phillies as they scuffle throughout a nightmarish stretch.

This past Sunday Hamels suffered a tough 3-2 loss to Anaheim. In the setback the southpaw made one mistake, giving up a three-run homer to Casey Kotchman. Despite the long ball, Hamels tossed seven innings, scattering six hits, while striking out four batters.

The 24-year-old has struggled on the road this year, posting a 2-1 ledger and a 4.01 ERA in six starts away from Citizen Bank Ball Park.

As for the Rangers, they will send the red-hot Vicente Padilla to the mound this evening. Padilla spent a good part of his career in Philadelphia, and from 2002 to 2005 the right-hander was a part of the team's rotation, racking up a 44-42 ledger.

Padilla has been a pleasant surprise from Texas and is currently 10-3 with a solid 3.74 ERA. In his last 10 starts, the right-hander is 7-1, and that includes a three-game winning streak.

The last time Padilla was on the hill, he helped lead the Rangers to a 5-3 win over Washington. In the victory the 30-year-old allowed just three runs on five hits in seven innings of work.

Last night, Ian Kinsler went 3-for-4, homered and scored three runs, as the Rangers barely avoided a ninth-inning disaster to edge the struggling Phillies, 8-7.

Milton Bradley homered and Josh Hamilton knocked in a pair of runs for the Rangers, who have won four of six. Chris Davis hit his first major league homer, while Michael Young and David Murphy each collected a pair of hits as part of a 12-hit Texas attack.

Josh Rupe (3-1) tossed 2 1/3 shutout innings to earn the win in relief of Kason Gabbard, who was touched for six runs -- just one earned -- on four hits and five walks in 3 1/3 frames.

Pedro Feliz belted a grand slam for the Phillies, losers in eight of their last nine. Jayson Werth and Chris Coste each homered, while Pat Burrell doubled and scored a run.

Clay Condrey (1-1) allowed two runs in 2 2/3 innings and lost in relief of struggling starter Brett Myers, who was torched for five runs on five hits in two-plus innings, walking four and striking out two.