• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers
• Game Tracker

Rangers set to debut Gonzalez against Red Sox

May 30, 2015 - 2:23 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Alex "Chi Chi" Gonzalez will make his Major League debut on Saturday for Texas as the Rangers host the Boston Red Sox in the third contest of a four-game set at Globe Life Park.

Gonzalez will be filling in the spot in the rotation that opened up when Ross Detwiler went on the disabled list with inflammation in his shoulder. The team's first pick of the 2013 draft (23rd overall) out of Oral Roberts posted modest numbers at the Triple-A level, going 3-5 with a 4.15 ERA. However, Gonzalez has won two of his last three starts with a 2.20 ERA during that span.

Texas will look to build upon its 7-4 win over the Red Sox on Friday that evened the series at one win apiece. In his second home game since re-joining his old club, Josh Hamilton powered the Rangers' offense with a pair of solo home runs. Texas amassed six extra-base hits in total, while the Red Sox went 6-for-31 overall.

Prince Fielder went 2-for-4 to raise his American League-leading batting average to .364.

"There's no defense for a home run," said Rangers manager Jeff Banister. "Good swings. Josh is so quick with the bat that he can wait and still put a good pass on the ball."

Hamilton had not produced a multi-home run game since July 10, 2013. He now has 53 RBI in 57 career games versus Boston and an active 16-game hit streak at Globe Life Park.

The Red Sox won the series opener behind a strong performance from 22-year old Eduardo Rodriguez in his MLB debut. Manager John Farrell, who along with first baseman Mike Napoli was ejected in the eighth inning of Friday's loss, will hope Wade Miley can deny Gonzalez a victory in his first taste of the big leagues on Saturday.

Miley has been on fire as of late, accumulating a 3-2 record with 2.60 ERA in May. In two career starts versus Texas, Miley has just a 1.84 ERA.

Farrell was ejected after he and Napoli argued a called strikeout just after Hanley Ramirez belted a two-run homer that brought Boston within one run of tying the score. Napoli finished 0-for-2 with two walks.

"I thought there was a number of fastballs we felt that were off the plate away," Farrell said. "Despite the fact that their pitcher hits the glove, he was set up on the white chalk line on the left-handed batter's box. We felt like he was given a number of pitches that were not strikes that were called strikes."

The Rangers have still not won a home series this season in six attempts.