Holland to start for Rangers on Wednesday

“It’s a good thing I didn’t swing the bat”, deadpanned Beltre, who had a pair of RBI doubles earlier in the game. Left fielder Franklin Gutierrez doubled to score Seager, leaving runners at second and third with one out.Hamels, though, ended the threat there to keep the Rangers up by a run.The Texas left-hander found himself in trouble again in the fifth. “I came up and took a peek at second just to see if there was a play there”.

Josh Hamilton did not start for the second consecutive game Monday to allow his sore left knee more time to rest. 500 for the first time since June 23. It is already well in the thick of the American League wild-card race this season, but it could combine Darvish and Cole Hamels atop the rotation from Opening Day next year and contend for a division title.

The Mariners had a chance in their ninth after Austin Jackson led off with a single up the middle against Texas closer Shawn Tolleson. The Mariners have won four of their last five games when scoring more than three runs.

Holland’s fastball has been reported as being ready to go, hitting 95 miles per hour at times, but his off-speed stuff has been up and down.

The Mariners are 5-1 in their last 6 vs. a team with a winning record and 10-2 in Walkers last 12 starts. Delino DeShields bunted toward third and beat out the throw by Kyle Seager, who said he hesitated too much. The Rangers loaded the bases on two bunt hits and a hit batter.

“I think I made good pitches to try to get out of the inning”, Rodney said. “That’s baseball”.

The Seattle Mariners and Texas Rangers begin their series Monday night. He missed his previous turn in the rotation last week with a groin injury.

Hamels allowed four runs – three on solo homers by Mark Trumbo, Nelson Cruz and Robinson Cano – and eight hits while striking out seven in six innings of a 4-3 loss in Seattle on August. 7. He struck out eight and walked four, the latter tying a season high. Hamels, who is 1-2 with a 4.67 ERA in three starts versus Seattle, permitted 23 runs in 20 innings over four of his last five starts, sandwiched around his no-hitter against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field on July 25 in his Phillies finale. It is their 64th walk-off loss since the start of the 2010 season.

“When you go to a new team, you want to come in guns blazing and throw shutouts”, Hamels said. “That’s something I definitely have to work on”.