ARLINGTON, Texas – Texas right-hander Scott Feldman is hoping a batting practice session Saturday will have him better prepared for his Tuesday start against Seattle.
Feldman faced Alberto Gonzalez, Craig Gentry and Brandon Snyder during his throwing session.
"Just being more consistent with my release point is what it is," said Feldman. "I was getting behind a lot of guys and walking guys. That's not the way I pitch so I've got to get back to what I do. Pitching comes down to commanding the baseball so I want to get my command as good as I can."
Feldman faced the Mariners last Wednesday in Seattle and struggled with his control. He didn't make it out of the fifth inning in the 5-3 loss as he walked five allowed five runs in 4 1/3 innings.
Napoli sits again
A stomach bug kept Mike Napoli out of the starting lineup for a second-consecutive day as Yorvit Torrealba started at catcher again.
Napoli is feeling better and hopes to be able to play in Sunday's series finale against Toronto.
"I still feel a little nauseated but I feel a lot better," said Napoli. "I don't feel as sick. I got some fluids in me."
Napoli is one of a handful of Rangers who are currently dealing with illness. Derek Holland, who pitched 7 1/3 solid innings Friday, came to the park early Friday to make sure he was in good enough shape to pitch. Like Napoli, Holland is also dealing with a stomach bug.
Rear saves Hamilton
One of the strangest plays in Friday's 14-3 Texas win over Toronto was Josh Hamilton's slide in the sixth inning at third base.
Hamilton, who left the game in the seventh because of a head cold, believes his backside saved him some added pain as he slid in with both feet and ended up landing on his rear.
"It was a weird play because I didn't think there would be a throw because I kind of planned on coasting in there," he said. "It hurt. I'm glad I have cushion. I thought I would be sore today but I'm not."
The head cold may have helped Hamilton in the game because he thinks it slowed the game down for him. It seemed to work as Hamilton snapped an eleven game homerless drought in the second inning.
