SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) - Texas right-hander Colby Lewis failed to get out of the first inning in his first start since having hip surgery in August, and the Rangers lost 6-5 to the Cleveland Indians on Monday.
Lewis, who won 14 games in 2011, allowed two runs on two hits and two walks. He retired only two of the six batters he faced. He has not pitched in the majors since July 18, 2012.
“My stride is so much longer now with so much more range in my right hip, that I’m just going to have more reps to find the release point,” Lewis said. “I had a certain way of going about my mechanics the last four or five years. Now I have to make an adjustment.
“It’s just the inconsistencies. I’d hit it good one spot and the next time it would be off six to eight inches or a foot. People say it’s the first one and get it out of the way, but I expected more out of myself,” Lewis added. “It is what it is, move on and fix some things and hopefully the next one’s better.”
Jeff Francoeur hit a two-run, two-out, two-strike single to end Lewis’ outing after 32 pitches. Elliot Johnson, who went 3 for 3, tripled home two runs for Cleveland in the sixth inning.
Mitch Moreland drove in two runs for the Rangers with a sacrifice fly and groundout.
QUARTERBACK IN CAMP
Russell Wilson, the Seattle Seahawks Super Bowl champion quarterback, brought out the Rangers’ lineup card to an a rousing ovation with cameras clicking. The Rangers selected Wilson, who was wearing No. 3, in the Triple-A Rule 5 draft in December.
Wilson hit .229 in 93 games in the low minors in 2010-11 in the Rockies’ farm system, but gave up baseball for football. Wilson was scheduled to be in the Rangers camp for just one day.
STARTING TIME
Indians: Corey Kluber limited the Rangers to a single and an unearned run in two innings in his first start. He induced five groundouts and struck out one.
“That was kind of my focus this time, going out there and working down in the zone better,” Kluber said. “I think I did a pretty good job with all the groundballs.”
Rangers: Nick Tepesch, who made 17 starts last season and is a rotation candidate, pitched two-hit ball for three innings after Lewis’ departure. Tepesch’s pitch count was low, so he went an extra inning, throwing 21 strikes in 34 pitches.
“Things went really well, so I still have to get my innings, my pitch count up and my stamina up,” Tepesch said. “Overall, I was pretty happy with my command. It’s not where it needs to be completely, but I was down in the zone and commanded four pitches for strikes.”
GOOD FIRST IMPRESSION
Vinnie Pestano pitched a scoreless inning. After an inconsistent season in which he lost his role as the Indians’ setup man and was eventually sent to Triple-A Columbus, he was pleased with his outing.
“I’m not gonna get excited about a seven-pitch inning in March,” Pestano said. “But it was good. I was able to go out there and locate for the most part. The ball had good action, the type of action I wanted, the type of action I was looking for last year.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Indians: Infielder Jose Ramirez, who had left thumb surgery on Dec. 11, will make his debut in a ’B’ game Tuesday against the Angels.
Rangers: Left-hander Matt Harrison, who has back tightness, threw 35 pitches off a half-mound. He is scheduled to throw off the full mound Wednesday.
RANGERS ADD PARRINO
The Rangers claimed infielder Andy Parrino off waivers from the Athletics. He hit .118 in 14 games last season with Oakland, spending most of the season with Triple-A Sacramento, where he hit .210.
To make room for Parrino on the 40-man major league roster, the Rangers transferred left-hander Derek Holland, who is rehabbing from January knee surgery, to the 60-day disabled list.
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