Hinch tells Holland signs weren’t stolen
ARLINGTON — After Tuesday’s opener in the three-game series with Texas, Rangers starter Derek Holland accused the Astros of stealing signs on his pitches, specifically referring to the second inning, when he allowed three consecutive hard-hit doubles.
The Astros scored twice in the inning but lost the game 7-5.
Before Wednesday’s game, Holland and Astros manager A.J. Hinch cleared the air.
“There wasn’t any foul play at all,” said Hinch, who met Holland on the field before the teams went through batting practice. “I let him know that. He was great about it, and we’ll move on.”
Holland gave up consecutive doubles to Evan Gattis, Carlos Gomez and Marwin Gonzalez in the second. Afterward, he told WFAA “they knew what was coming” and referred to whistling he said he heard coming from the direction of the Astros dugout every time the Rangers went with an inside pitch.
Holland acknowledged he might have tipped his pitches. He needed 105 to get through five innings, giving up five hits (four doubles) and a walk. After the three consecutive doubles, he retired eight of the next nine batters he faced.
“I think there was an adjustment in-game for him in some of his usage, in some of his location,” Hinch said. “But generally speaking, when things like that happen, everybody’s looking for a reason. Maybe it was well-timed by a fan or by something, but there wasn’t any foul play.”
McCullers OK after pen session
Lance McCullers is a step closer to meaningful time on the mound.
A day after throwing a bullpen session, the 22-year-old righthander played catch and felt good, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. McCullers will throw another bullpen session when the team returns to Houston on Friday and play catch as he would normally until then.
If that goes well, McCullers could make his second rehab start.
“Once we get into competition, we’ll have a better idea, but a step forward is better than a step backward.” Hinch said.
McCullers, who started the year on the 15-day disabled list due to shoulder soreness, threw 48 pitches over three innings in his first rehab start. He was scratched from a start Saturday with Class AA Corpus Christi.
“I think the extra bullpen will do him well, but we’ll see,” Hinch said. “Similar to any exercise or anything that you do, you feel great that first day, and then the second day, the soreness kicks in a little bit.
“When it comes to pitches, until you actually engage the mound, throw from an angle and put your body in the model of pitching, the next day is going to be the telltale (sign).”
Bonds, Jackie, Seaver … Hinch?
Astros manager A.J. Hinch was among some impessive company named to the Pac-12 All-Century Baseball Team.
A Stanford alum, Hinch was one three catchers and 30 players (including 10 pitchers) named to the team by a 36-member. Other notables named to the team include three Baseball Hall of Famers — Jackie Robinson (UCLA), Tom Seaver (USC) and Randy Johnson (USC) — plus Barry Bonds (Arizona Starte), Mark McGwire (USC), Chase Utley (UCLA), Dustin Pedroia (Arizona State), Terry Francona (Arizona), Mike Mussina (Stanford) and Tim Lincecum (Washington).
While at Stanford from 1992-96, Hinch was a twotime Conference Player of the Year, a three-time AllAmerican and a finalist for the 1996 Golden Spikes Award.
Odds and ends
Astros manager A.J. Hinch said he can see Chris Devenski “factoring in as a starter at any point.” Devenski gave up his first run in four appearances Tuesday and has nine strikeouts in 81⁄3 innings. Whether he becomes a starter sooner or later “will always be a topic of discussion inside,” Hinch said. … Hinch announced his rotation for this weekend’s series against the Red Sox at Minute Maid Park. Collin McHugh will start Friday night, followed by Mike Fiers on Saturday and Scott Feldman on Sunday night. … Proceeds from the Astros Foundation’s Share2Care raffle during the series against Boston will go to the American Red Cross’ flood relief efforts.