BP for Rangers pitchers means bunting practice

ARLINGTON -- With less than a week until their first road Interleague series, Rangers pitchers began taking batting practice Tuesday to prepare for their visit to Denver to take on the Rockies beginning May 5.

Manager Ron Washington doesn't expect much out of his pitchers during their plate appearances other than executing the fundamentals. Nor does he want a scenario similar to the 2012 incident in which Alexi Ogando missed more than a month after straining his groin trying to beat out a bunt for a base hit.

"Just get the bunt down," Washington said. "They get a chance to hit, they hit, but other than that, I just want them to bunt. Don't be trying to beat out ground-ball base hits and all of that. But that's just words, because when you start competing you just react."

Last season, no Rangers pitcher had a hit. Texas pitchers went a combined 0-for-18 with 11 strikeouts. Derek Holland was the only Rangers pitcher to have any success at the plate, accounting for both of their walks, their only run scored and their only sacrifice bunt.

The Rangers were one of three AL teams whose pitchers did not collect a hit in 2013, along with the Mariners and the Yankees. The Royals led the league in pitchers' hits with six.