Rangers 1 - 2 Royals
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Holland makes season debut for Rangers against Royals

Sep 2, 2014 - 2:40 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Texas left-hander Derek Holland makes his season debut on Tuesday when the Rangers continue a three-game series with the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium.

Holland missed the first five months of the season recovering from knee surgery in January. He made six starts in the minors from July 30 to Aug. 28 and posted a 4.43 ERA in 20 1/3 innings at Double-A Frisco (two starts) and Triple-A Round Rock (four starts).

"I'm going to treat this as if it's Opening Day for me," Holland said. "Maybe the first pitch I'll be a little nervous, because it's my first time out there. After that, I'll be back to normal."

A 16-game winner for the Rangers back in 2011, Holland was 10-9 last season with a 3.42 ERA in 33 starts.

"I just want to play. I want to feel like a part of this team. This whole year has been brutal for me, and I didn't feel like I was a part of anything," Holland said of his team, saddled with the worst record in baseball. "Whether we lose the whole season, I want to be there, I want to be in it."

Kansas City, meanwhile, will turn to righty Jeremy Guthrie, who is 10-10 with a 4.43 ERA. Guthrie was lucky not to get a loss on Thursday against the Minnesota Twins, as he was roughed up for five runs and nine hits in six innings. However, he did not factor in the decision of his team's 11-5 loss.

"It wasn't one of (Guthrie's) best starts, but he got us through six innings and kept us in the game," manager Ned Yost said. "When he left, we had a chance to win the game and that's what's important."

Guthrie has faced the Rangers 16 times (13 starts) and is 5-4 against them with a 3.57 ERA.

Kansas City came out victorious in Monday's opener, as Salvador Perez went 3- for-4 with a two-run homer and three RBI to power the Royals to a 4-3 win. Mike Moustakas added two hits and an RBI for Kansas City, which remained a half-game ahead of the Tigers for first place in the AL Central.

Yordano Ventura (11-9) allowed three runs -- two earned -- on five hits with seven strikeouts and four walks over 6 1/3 innings for Kansas City, which snapped a three-game skid. The right-hander returned to the mound after missing his last start because of a back issue.

"With Ventura throwing the ball so well, it allowed to get us into the seventh inning with our big three spot with a lead," Royals manager Ned Yost said. "We were in good shape from that point."

Michael Choice, Tomas Telis and Adrian Beltre each drove in a run for the Rangers, who had just five hits.

Texas starter Colby Lewis (9-12) gave up four runs on nine hits while striking out five over seven innings. The right-hander was coming off a complete game performance at Seattle last Wednesday, as he allowed four runs and seven hits in a 12-4 victory.

Once Holland takes the hill Tuesday the Rangers will break the major league record for players used in a season with 60 and will tie the 2002 Padres by throwing their 37th different pitcher this year.

The Royals won two of three games in Texas a few weeks ago (Aug. 22-24).






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