Surprise, Ariz. — The first day of spring-training games was unlike any other day Alexi Ogando has thrown so far this month. It wasn’t very good.
The right-hander allowed three runs in 1 1/3 innings as he struggled to find the strike zone, but Yangervis Solarte hit a two-run homer in the ninth inning to push the Rangers into a tie with Kansas City the Cactus League opener for both teams.Adam Moore, the former UT-Arlington catcher, swatted a homer to start the fifth, Ogando’s second inning, after the Royals had scored twice in the fourth on a walk, a hit batsman, a bunt single, another walk and a sacrifice fly.“When you can’t find the strike zone, bad things happen,” said Ogando, the Rangers’ No. 4 starter. “I was trying to work both sides of the plate, and I was trying to throw my changeup. Nothing was working.”Derek Holland allowed one run in three innings. The left-hander, headed to Team USA after one more start, scattered six hits, but liked that he was able to throw all of his pitches for strikes.“He was good for the first day,” manager Ron Washington said.Nelson Cruz swatted a two-run homer in the fourth, and Robbie Ross tossed two scoreless innings in his first audition for the fifth spot in the rotation.The Rangers were down to the final out, but native Texan Brandon Allen tripled into the right-field corner, and Solarte followed with a homer to right. Both players are in camp on minor-league deals.Jeff Wilson, 817-390-7760 Twitter: @JeffWilson_FWST
