Matchup, not need for rest, lands Hamilton on Rangers’ bench

Los Angeles Angels fans who were hoping to boo Josh Hamilton on Saturday night either shouldn’t have missed the series opener Friday or should have bought tickets for the Sunday finale.

For the first time since the All-Star break, Hamilton was out of the Texas Rangers’ starting lineup. Imagine the disappointment at Angel Stadium.

“I know it,” Hamilton said. “I am, too.”

The move wasn’t made to give Hamilton a day of rest, manager Jeff Banister said. The Rangers were off Thursday, so Hamilton was fresh and attempted to lobby his way into the lineup.

“I appreciate that,” Bannister said.

Instead, Hamilton, a left-handed hitter, was on the bench along with lefty-hitting first baseman Mitch Moreland as the Angels started All-Star lefty Hector Santiago, who was holding lefty hitters to a .189 average and was 2-0 with a 0.93 ERA in his three starts against the Rangers this season.

“This is not about a day off,” Banister said. “It’s about the combination of hitters in the lineup. We have had limited success here lately against left-handers.”

Hamilton said that he held up well during the seven-game stretch, the first six of which came on consecutive days. He said that his left hamstring was sore during the three-game series at Colorado but was fine Friday despite a busy game on the bases.

Based on how he has felt the past week, Hamilton believes that he will able to hold up for the rest of the season.

“All of it felt good,” he said.

Though the Angels are starting another lefty, Andrew Haney, on Sunday, Hamilton is expected to return to the lineup.

Holland set to rehab

Left-hander Derek Holland threw 48 pitches of live batting practice and expects to begin a medical rehabilitation assignment Thursday with Triple A Round Rock.

He will first throw a bullpen session Monday or Tuesday at Globe Life Park, but everything from his second live BP session after months of rest because of an April shoulder injury suggested that he’s ready for game action.

“He threw the ball well,” Banister said. “The ball came out hot and clean.”

Holland will be limited to 30 pitches Thursday, even though he wants to push it to 45. Banister, though, doesn’t want to add to the risk that Holland suffers a setback.

Holland was as pleased any of those watching as he faced right-handed hitters Ryan Rua, Tomas Telis and Adam Rosales. He was working on a few things, but said he fastball had good velocity and his off-speed pitches were working properly.

The rest, like sharper command, will come over the four or five rehab starts he makes.

“I’m not going to sit here and say I looked perfect,” Holland said. “I’m going to have to go out there and improve each time. Location-wise, I thought it went pretty well. I’ve still got more work to do.”

Odubel!

Rangers players were captivated as they watched Philadelphia ace Cole Hamels, a Rangers trade target, throw a no-hitter, and many got a thrill as their minor-league teammate Odubel Herrera made an adventure out of the final out.

Herrera nearly went to the ivy at Wrigley Field before realizing he had tracked too far back on Kris Bryant’s drive to center field. Herrera fell forward and made the catch just before the ball hit the ground.

“Odubel!” shouted right-hander Nick Martinez, briefly a teammate of Herrera’s at Double A Frisco last year.

The kicker is that Herrera was an infielder in the Rangers’ organization. The Rangers lost Herrera in December in the Rule 5 draft.

“He’s only played outfield in Venezuela and in the major leagues,” said right-hander Keone Kela, who also played with Herrera in Frisco.

This story was originally published July 25, 2015 at 8:13 PM with the headline "Matchup, not need for rest, lands Hamilton on Rangers’ bench."