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Gentry gets start in left field for Rangers

KANSAS CITY -- Rangers manager Ron Washington, trying to get some production out of left field, had Craig Gentry in there on Saturday night even with a right-hander on the mound for the Royals. Gentry gets most of his starts against left-handed pitchers, but he did have a four-hit game on Thursday in Tampa Bay.

"I've been trying to get as many left-handed hitters in there against right-handers, and it hasn't been working," Washington said. "I decided to try something else."

Gentry was the fourth starting left fielder for the Rangers in four games. David Murphy, who started there on Friday and went 1-for-3, was at designated hitter on Saturday. The Rangers have had eight different players start in left this year, as opposed to five in 2012. Murphy and Josh Hamilton combined to start 158 of 162 games at the position last season.

Because of Murphy and Hamilton, Rangers left-fielders had an .899 OPS in 2012, the fourth-highest mark in club history from the position. This season, Texas left-fielders have combined for a .709 OPS, the fifth-lowest mark in club history.

T.R. Sullivan is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Postcards from Elysian Fields, and follow him on Twitter @Sullivan_Ranger.
Read More: Texas Rangers, Craig Gentry