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Lewis strikes out career-high 12 vs. Orioles

Colby Lewis put up one of the strangest pitching lines you'll see all season in his last outing, but the Rangers right-hander isn't going to let that bother him.

Lewis gave up six runs on five hits -- all home runs -- while striking out 12 Orioles in Thursday's loss. He said afterward that he felt he had some of his best stuff of the season, ultimately concluding that it was simply a "weird game."

"I thought I threw the ball well. I didn't give up a foul ball, a single or a double," Lewis said. "I gave up home runs. I gave up just five hits. I'm not worried about it. I still felt like I made my pitches."

One thing Lewis will have working in his favor Tuesday against the Royals: He's starting at home, where he is 2-0 with a 1.45 ERA in three outings this year. He finished 5-5 with a 5.54 ERA in 15 starts at home last year but pitched much better on the road, just the opposite of what he's done this season. He's not letting that statistical switch get to him, either.

"I was better in 2010, but who cares," Lewis said. "All I try to do is go out there and try to feel the same every start, which is hard to do. I'm trying to get guys out. I'm not worried about stats."

The Royals, meanwhile, are more worried about finding enough pitchers to fill out their injury-riddled starting rotation. Left-hander Jonathan Sanchez is on the disabled list with left biceps tendinitis, and he was joined Monday by lefty Danny Duffy, who seems to be headed toward season-ending Tommy John surgery. Duffy will be replaced by either Luis Mendoza or Nate Adcock.

But it will be right-hander Vin Mazzaro on the mound Tuesday night, making his first start of the season. He has made only one appearance, tossing a perfect inning on eight pitches Friday against the White Sox.

Mazzaro had a 1-0 record and 4.37 ERA in six starts with Triple-A Omaha before being called up Tuesday to solidify the bullpen with a long reliever. The 25-year-old was acquired from Oakland before the 2011 season in the deal that sent David DeJesus to the A's. He appeared in seven games (four starts) for Kansas City last year, posting a 1-1 record and 8.26 ERA.

Royals: Hosmer goes hitless in two-hole
• Manager Ned Yost moved slugger Eric Hosmer into the second spot in the order Monday night, hoping he would see more pitches to hit and boost his sinking batting average. The move didn't pay immediate dividends, as he went 0-for-4 and saw his average drop to .174.

"If [leadoff hitter Jarrod] Dyson gets on, they're going to want to come after me and not let him steal the base," Hosmer said. "Then I've got Billy [Butler] protecting me, so hopefully it's a nice spot for me. So I'm looking forward to it. Hopefully, it'll turn us on, and maybe [I'll] stay there."

• Mike Moustakas was back at third base Monday night after sitting out two games with a sore left hamstring. He went 1-for-4.

Rangers: Hamilton's bat sent to Hall
• The bat that Josh Hamilton used to hit eight of his nine homers last week has been sent to the Hall of Fame. He became the 16th player to hit four homers in a game Tuesday with that bat.

"I probably could have taped it up and kept using it, but she died a hero," Hamilton said. "The crack was near my hand and it was just a hairline crack."

To no one's surprise, Hamilton was named the American League Player of the Week on Monday. He hit .467 with nine homers and 18 RBIs over his previous seven games. He went 1-for-3 with a walk Monday night, bringing his season average to exactly .400.

• Mitch Moreland will get the start at first base Tuesday, and David Murphy will be in the outfield.

Worth noting
• The Rangers announced their ticket availability for this week's games: 10,000 reserved seats remain for Tuesday night, 1,000 for Wednesday's game against the A's, while only obstructed view and scattered singles remain for Thursday afternoon's homestand finale.

• Royals relievers have allowed just two earned runs and struck out 22 batters in their last 22 innings.

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