Holland makes good first impression in White Sox's loss to Twins
The Chicago White Sox's offense struggled against the unbeaten Minnesota Twins Friday night at Guaranteed Rate Field, but Derek Holland did not.
Debuting with the Sox after spending his first eight seasons with the Texas Rangers, Holland pitched 6 innings and allowed 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits. The 30-year-old lefty had 5 strikeouts and 1 walk.
"I thought it was a good first start," Holland said. "Way to get things going. I'm glad it's over with, the first start with a new team. I did everything I could. The guys were out there battling, making plays for me. Hat's off to them for that. The next time we just have to finish, that's all."
Holland has been a fixture om the disabled list since 2010, and he missed two months last season with shoulder inflammation.
The veteran starter signed a one-year, $6 million contract with the White Sox in mid-December with the hopes of getting his career back on track.
"I don't sit and worry about the stuff I've gone through," Holland said. "You've go to turn the page and focus on the now. These guys have done a good job of keeping me where I need to be and Coop (pitching coach Don Cooper) has done a good job of
Jose Abreu's RBI single in the first inning off Minnesota starter Phil Hughes gave the Sox the early lead, but after that both defenses played a big role in deciding the outcome.
Twins center fielder Byron Buxton made two standout catches early and right fielder Max Kepler and left fielder Eddie Rosario also took away extra-base hits.
"They're a very athletic club," manager Rick Renteria said.
Errors by Holland and right fielder Avisail Garcia in the fourth inning allowed the Twins to tie the game.
Garcia has made fielding miscues in two straight games, but Renteria is not worried.
Against the Tigers on Thursday, Garcia failed to pick up a drive off the bat of Nick Castellanos and he dropped the ball for an error.
Against the Twins (4-0), Garcia ran a long ways in on a Miguel Sano fly and dropped the ball again.
"I don't think he's too worried about that and neither am I," Renteria said.
A teaching manager, Renteria will talk with rookie Jacob May about his at-bat that ended the game.
After Minnesota closer Brandon Kintzler issued two straight walks with two outs in the ninth inning, May swung at the first pitch and grounded out.
"I think his emotions got a little bit ahead of him," Renteria said. "It's one of those things where obviously we see Kintzler struggling a little bit and he gets in there and he's fairly confident of his ability, and obviously Kintzler's pretty good, keeps the ball down, sunk it a little bit and got him to chase it.
"It's one of things where as we have a conversation and get him to understand the situation and what was happening prior to that, he'll gain some experience from that."