(Sports Network) - Former NBA All-Star Tim Hardaway had the UTEP two-step while starring for the Miners during the late 1980's. The cross-state Texas Rangers have a two-step style of their own in starting pitchers Vicente Padilla and Sidney Ponson.

Instead of no-look passes and jumpers from the elbow, Padilla has been using his fastball and devastating curveball to his advantage so far in 2008, compiling a 6-2 mark with a 3.16 earned run average in 10 starts this season. Padilla is slated to make his 11th trip to the mound in Thursday's series finale at Minnesota, and has won four straight decisions. He is 4-0 with a sparkling 1.60 earned run average in his previous five outings -- all Texas wins.

"He's pitching well, he's off to a good start and he's in control out there," said Rangers catcher Gerald Laird. "His confidence is growing from start to start."

The right-handed Nicaraguan started the recent streak with a seven-hit shutout of the Twins on April 27 at Rangers Ballpark, and went the distance for the third time in his career and first since April 19, 2003 against Atlanta as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. Padilla, the only member of Texas' Opening Day rotation who has not been on the disabled list this year, tossed a four-hit shutout to silence the Braves at Turner Field five years ago.

Padilla's six wins matches his total for all of last season, when he compiled a 6-10 record with a 5.76 ERA in 23 starts. His best win total came during the 2006 campaign after finishing 15-10 in 33 trips to the mound.

The Rangers are 8-2 in Padilla's first 10 starts, having gone 2-8 over his initial 10 starts last year. Padilla is currently holding opponents to a .176 batting average with runners in scoring position -- the third lowest in the league.

Ponson, meanwhile, is off to a promising start in his first season with the Rangers. The well-traveled Ponson is 3-0 with a 2.95 earned run average through six starts this season, and tossed a gem the last time out on Wednesday night versus the Twins. Ponson started the game with five shutout frames and went the distance in a 10-1 win, allowing one run and six hits for his 29th career complete-game effort and first since 2005.

The last time Ponson took the hill for the entire game was with Baltimore on April 24, 2005 at Toronto. The righty limited the Blue Jays to a run and five hits in a 7-1 Orioles victory.

"It was on my mind that the bullpen was a little beat up," said Ponson, who helped end the Rangers' three-game losing streak. "I also know you go through winning streaks and losing streaks, but my mentality was to give us seven good innings and a chance to win."

Ponson recorded the third complete game for Texas this season and has surrendered just one run in four of his six outings. The Rangers are 4-2 when Ponson toes the rubber.

BLALOCK EYEING RETURN

Injured Texas slugger Hank Blalock is slated to come off of the disabled list on Friday, when the Rangers open a three-game series against the Cleveland Indians at Progressive Field.

Blalock landed on the DL in late April with a partially torn left hamstring muscle, and was batting .299 with three homers and seven RBI before going down. He opened the season at third base, but will make the switch to first base for the upcoming series. Frank Catalanotto and Chris Shelton have been platooning at first while Blalock heals.

"Hank is coming along good," said Rangers skipper Ron Washington. "He's making all the adjustments and almost looking like a first baseman. It won't take Hank long. He's already an infielder, he's just moving to the other side. He's got an idea of how to play first base."

The left-handed hitter played five innings of an extended Spring Training game on Wednesday. Blalock tested the leg and even scored from first base on a double.

Blalock, an All-Star in 2003 and 2004, competed in only 58 games last year because of injury, hitting .293 with 10 homers and 33 runs batted in.

In other news for the Rangers, the ballclub called up right-handed relief pitcher Kameron Loe from Triple-A Oklahoma and designated reliever Franklyn German for assignment Wednesday.

WHO'S HOT

Rangers shortstop Michael Young has hit safely in 28 of his last 33 games, while batting .307 over that span to boost his batting average from .196 to his current mark of .277. Young, who has 16 multi-hit games this season, is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak in which he owns two homers and five RBI.

Outfielder Josh Hamilton has been on fire over his last 12 contests, batting .451 with 15 RBI, four homers, three doubles and two triples. Hamilton leads the major leagues with 51 runs batted in, and is tops in the American League with 115 total bases, 63 hits and a .599 slugging percentage.

Fellow outfielder Milton Bradley has been enjoying his share of the pie too, as he is batting .333 with six home runs, 16 RBI and 16 runs scored in his past 18 games. Bradley has knocked in 14 runs over the previous 14 contests.

WHO'S NOT

The overworked Texas bullpen has allowed just six earned runs in the past seven games, but has the most innings pitched in the majors this season with 171 2/3.

ON DECK

Texas has won 10 of 15 and 16 of its last 25 games. It is 1-2 on a 10-game, 10-day road trip to Minnesota, Cleveland and Tampa Bay. After tonight's tilt at the Metrodome against the Twins, the Rangers will visit the Indians for three games before taking on the Rays in St. Petersburg, FL.

The Rangers had won seven consecutive series before opening this swing.