Rangers add RHP Jerome Williams, will start Friday

NEW YORK (AP) The pitching-poor Texas Rangers plan to add right-hander Jerome Williams and will start him Friday night against AL West-leading Oakland.

The Rangers announced after Thursday's 4-2 loss to the New York Yankees that they would purchase Williams' contract from Triple-A Round Rock.

The 32-year-old Williams was released by Houston earlier this month after going 1-4 with a 6.04 ERA in 26 relief appearances. He signed with Texas and went 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA in two starts at Triple-A.

Williams is 43-51 with a 4.45 ERA in nine seasons with San Francisco, the Cubs, Washington, the Angels and Astros.

Texas has a 4.84 ERA, the highest in the AL and almost a half-run over anyone else in the league.

The Rangers have the worst record in the majors, and set a big league record by using 30 pitchers before the All-Star break. They've already tied a team mark for most pitchers in a season, and they added another newcomer to the roster before Thursday's game by promoting reliever Nate Adcock from Triple-A.