Rangers’ lineup altered for getaway Game 3
Wednesday’s series finale against the Seattle Mariners included a vastly different lineup for the Texas Rangers.
Reserves Justin Ruggiano, Ryan Rua, Hanser Alberto and Bryan Holaday all started for various reasons. The overriding reason, manager Jeff Banister said, was to make sure he gave his bench players a chance to get into a rhythm early in the season.
The four combined to go 1 for 15 with five of the Rangers’ 11 strikeouts in Wednesday’s 9-5 loss.
It also gave Banister a chance to put Ian Desmond in center field for the first time and give Mitch Moreland a day off with a left-handed starter on the mound for the Mariners.
Anytime I get to put a big league uniform on and go play a big league game is a proud moment for me.
Rangers catcher and TCU product Bryan Holaday
“Four to five days would be way too long to have those guys sitting over on the bench having not played,” Banister said. “They need to be able to find a rhythm coming out of spring training also. I think it benefits us to get those guys engaged so that all players can find that rhythm.”
Holaday’s debut
Holaday, a former TCU star, started at catcher, which not only allowed Robinson Chirinos a day off after a night game, but matched up Holaday with Rangers starter Colby Lewis, whom he caught in an exhibition Friday.
“Anytime I get to put a big league uniform on and go play a big league game is a proud moment for me,” Holaday said. “It’s definitely something special, and probably in a few years from now I’ll cherish it.”
Desmond in center
Desmond started the first two games in left and had not worked in center field since the team returned from Arizona before starting in center Wednesday.
“I feel comfortable, prepared as much as I can be. There’s only one way to find out,” said Desmond, who only received two ground balls in his first two games in left. “I’m open for whatever. I’m just glad I’m in the lineup.”
Banister liked the idea of giving Desmond a shot in center under voluntary circumstances.
“I didn’t want it be the first time he goes out to center field that it is an emergency,” he said.
Moreland’s days off
When Moreland is given a day off, it’ll likely come against left-handed starters.
“It’s about the long term in the season, trying to keep him as fresh as we possibly can for the long term,” Banister said. “He’s going to see every right-hander.”
NASCAR visitor
NASCAR XFinity Series driver Brandon Jones, who will race in the O’Reilly Auto Parts 300 at Texas Motor Speedway on Friday, threw out one of the first pitches Wednesday. Jones’ car will be sponsored by the Texas Rangers, and he’ll wear a Rangers-inspired fire suit.
Daily Diekman
Reliever Jake Diekman is the first pitcher to appear in each of the Rangers’ first three games since Darren Oliver in 2010.
Longtime fan
Fort Worth resident Elizabeth Sullivan, 105, threw out one of the first pitches Wednesday. Sullivan was helped up from her wheelchair before she threw the ball toward home.
Signing
The Rangers signed right-hander Burke Badenhop to a minor league deal and assigned him to Triple A Round Rock.
Stefan Stevenson: 817-390-7760, @StevensonFWST
This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 4:55 PM with the headline "Rangers’ lineup altered for getaway Game 3."