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TOR@TEX: Holland fans nine over 7 1/3 strong frames

Samuel Deduno isn't entirely new to the big leagues, but Saturday will be a completely new experience.

The right-hander's first career start will come for the Twins against the Rangers. He has pitched a combined 5 2/3 innings out of the bullpen with the Rockies (2010) and Padres ('11).

That might not necessarily prepare him for a start against baseball's best offense, as Texas' 435 runs scored and .280 batting average are both tops in the Majors. But Deduno has fared well with Triple-A Rochester this season, amassing a 2.14 ERA with 46 strikeouts in 42 innings.

"I've been relaxed on the mound," Deduno said of his success in the Minors this year. "I've thrown strikes. I've pitched with my fastball, curveball, everything."

The 29-year-old relishes his shot to impress on Saturday.

"It's a good chance for me," he said. "When I was in the big leagues before I didn't pitch much. So it's a good opportunity."

The start will constitute a first for Texas pitcher Derek Holland, too. The left-hander will take the mound for the first time since he was placed on the disabled list on June 7 with shoulder fatigue.

Holland went 0-2 with a 6.00 ERA in two rehab starts with Triple-A Round Rock. Rangers manager Ron Washington said he wouldn't be on a pitch count. In fact, Washington hopes for nine innings.

"I just need to go out there and go the distance," Holland said. "I need to do as much as I can to show that I'm back. I feel great. My main thing is that I feel like I have to play a little bit of catch up with my innings and the rest of my team.

"I feel like I'm a little behind. I don't feel like I have as many innings as the rest of the starters. I feel like I need to get myself back up there."

Twins: Gardenhire not surprised by Nathan's comeback
• Joe Nathan -- the Twins' all-time saves leader -- has proved to be a valuable asset to Texas' bullpen this year. Nathan is heading to the All-Star Game after posting a 1.87 ERA in 33 2/3 innings. He posted a 4.84 ERA with the Twins last year, a season removed from Tommy John surgery.

Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire isn't surprised to see Nathan climb his way back.

"He's a hard worker," Gardenhire said. "I don't think anybody is going to do more than he did to get back on the field. He was working hard at it from the first time he got a chance to pick up a baseball. He never quit on his rehab. He didn't back off a bit. He has that special desire and ability and he uses it, he doesn't let it go to waste. He's put everything back in it to get back on the field and it shows.

• Darin Mastroianni has started five of Minnesota's last eight games, and he's rewarding the Twins with solid play. The 26-year-old outfielder is hitting .444 (8-for-18) with six stolen bases in those five games.

Rangers: Lewis to throw from mound
• Right-hander Colby Lewis will throw off a mound on Saturday. The session could determine if Lewis -- currently on the disabled list with right forearm tightness -- can return immediately following the All-Star break.

Lewis threw 25 pitches in the bullpen on Thursday, and said he experienced no residual soreness on Friday.

"That's what we had scheduled and what we talked about right before I went on the DL," he said. "I'll see how the arm reacts after this next bullpen and then we'll go from there. It's a day-to-day process."

• Center fielder Josh Hamilton exited Friday's game in the fifth inning after experiencing lower back spasms. He was injured while trying to track down a fly ball hit by Brian Dozier. Hamilton was 0-for-2 before exiting. He is day to day, and his status for Saturday's game is unknown.

"I don't know how to describe it because I've never felt anything like it before," Hamilton said. "It was hurting all the way in my hips. My legs were weak."

Worth noting
• Minnesota's win on Friday was its first against Texas this season. The Rangers swept three games from the Twins in Minneapolis from April 13-15.

• The Twins are the only team with a winning record against Texas in the previous three seasons.

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