Holland, White Sox fall to Rangers, 10-4
After spending the first eight years of his career with the Texas Rangers, first-year Chicago White Sox starter Derek Holland was looking forward to pitching against his old team Saturday afternoon at Guaranteed Rate Field.
"It's definitely going to be weird," Holland said. "It's exciting though. I got a new change of scenery. It's been awesome here in Chicago, but getting to match up against your former team is going to be pretty exciting."
The thrill was soon gone - for Holland and the Sox - in a 10-4 loss to the Rangers.
The veteran left-hander pitched 5⅓ innings and allowed 5 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks.
"It was intense," Holland said. "Obviously, you know they want to hit the home runs off me and they want to crush me just like I want to strike them out. I thought everything was there. Just a few things got away. Nothing to kind of beat myself up over. I felt like I did a good job of attacking, just a little upset with too many pitches that cost me."
The big blow off Holland was Elvis Andrus' 2-run homer in the fifth inning that snapped a 2-2 tie.
"I know I'm going to hear about that one," Holland said. "The only thing I can say is thank God that wind was behind it. I thought it was a routine flyball and it's one of those things. A home run is a home run whether he crushes it or he doesn't.
"When it shows up on the sheet you don't know where it's actually at. Give the man credit, he hit the ball. I made the pitch. It's just the way it goes."
After hitting his first 13 home runs of the season on the road, Jose Abreu cleared the fences in his second straight home game.
Abreu hit a 2-run shot off Texas starter Cole Hamels in the first inning to give the Sox the early lead.
Making just his second start since missing two months with an oblique injury, Hamels settled down and allowed 2 runs on 2 hits in 6⅔ innings. He retired the last 19 White Sox hitters he faced.
"You just know when you go up against a guy like that, you've got to go pitch for pitch with him," Holland said. "Like I said, I threw too many pitches, took me out of the game earlier, and some things just didn't go my way. But it's a really good pitcher over there, too. You've got to give the guy credit."
Numbers game:
Texas scored 10 runs on 10 hits in Saturday's win.
The White Sox have given up 10 or more hits 27 times this season and are 3-24 in those games.
Road to recovery:
Injured starting pitcher Miguel Gonzalez (shoulder) and infielder Tyler Saladino (back) are expected to begin rehabilitation assignments this week.
Gonzalez has been on the disabled list since June 20. The right-hander is 4-8 with a 5.15 ERA in 13 starts.
Saladino has been on the DL since May 27. In 30 games this season, he's batting .200 with 4 RBI.
Star search:
Class AAA Charlotte third baseman Nicky Delmonico has been added to the International League all-star team.
He'll join teammate Yoan Moncada at the July 12 Triple-A All-Star Game at Tacoma, Washington.
In 74 games with Charlotte, Delmonico was batting .276 with 11 home runs and 39 RBI.