(Sports Network) - Time is starting to run out on the Texas Rangers. Tonight, they try to keep their fleeting postseason hopes alive when they begin a three-game series with the Tampa Bay Rays at Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.

The Rangers enter tonight's matchup trailing the Boston Red Sox by eight games in the American League Wild Card race, while sitting seven games back of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in the AL West.

Texas will play four games against the Angels after this series, but that matchup could be meaningless if the Rangers continue to play the way they have been playing.

The Rangers did themselves no favors this week, as they split a four-game set with the Oakland Athletics, falling 12-3 in Thursday's finale. David Murphy and Chris Davis drove in a run each for Texas, which has dropped eight of its last 11.

Scott Feldman (17-6) was shelled for seven hits and seven runs over 3 1/3 innings, walking five with two strikeouts in defeat. The 26-year-old lost for just the second time this season on the road. Before Thursday he recorded wins in a club-record eight straight road starts.

"I think everything was sort of a grind for me today," said Feldman. "I wasn't able to get out of some jams that I created for myself. Walking five guys is never good and I think I struggled with my command a lot."

Getting the call for Texas tonight will be lefty Derek Holland, who has lost his last five starts. Holland's most recent setback came last Sunday against the Angels, who hit him for six runs and eight hits in 5 2/3 innings, dropping him to 7-12 to go along with a 6.17 ERA.

Holland won his only other start against the Rays back on July 4.

Tampa, meanwhile, was eliminated from postseason consideration earlier in the week, one year after reaching the World Series for the first time in franchise history. The Rays, though, have played well of late and enter tonight's tilt having won five of their last six.

On Wednesday, B.J. Upton's two-run single in the eighth inning was the difference, helping Tampa Bay get past the Seattle Mariners, 5-4, in the finale of a brief two-game set from Tropicana Field.

Upton finished 2-for-3 with three RBI for Tampa Bay, which had lost 13 of 14 before its current tear.

Russ Springer (1-4) got the win after recording the final out in the eighth inning.

Heading to the hill for Tampa tonight will be righty James Shields, who is 10-11 with a 4.09 ERA. Shields picked up the win last Friday against Toronto, as he allowed four runs and nine hits in six innings.

Shields is a perfect 2-0 against the Rangers with a 4.29 ERA in three starts.

Texas has won four of six from the Rays this season.



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