Matt Harrison knew what the problem was. The bigger problem was he couldn't fix it in time.
The left-hander threw 88 pitches -- most of them out of the strike zone -- in only four innings for the Texas Rangers in a 12-6 loss to a Cleveland Indians split squad on Friday night.
Shin-Soo Choo, plunked in the batting helmet by Harrison's pitch in the first inning, hit a three-run triple in the seventh. He also doubled and threw out a runner at third base from right field.
Harrison, vying for a spot in the Rangers' rotation, gave up four hits and four runs. He also walked four and threw two wild pitches.
"It took me until the fourth inning to find a (proper) release point," Harrison said. "I threw 88 pitches, way too many. I've just got to forget about this outing and move on."
Harrison had walked only two in his first nine innings over three previous starts.
"I'll still trust my stuff," Harrison said. "A good thing was I threw a lot of sliders. I threw none in my last start. Now, I've got to find the right release point on all my pitches."
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Cleveland third baseman Jason Donald did not play again due to a sore left hand, hit by a pitch March 5. The Indians said trainer Lonnie Soloff will address Donald's status on Saturday.
"Donald tried to take some swings today, but it continues to bother him," manager Manny Acta said.
Jack Hannahan, who could get the starting job at third if Donald is out for an extended period, went 2 for 4 and scored twice. Signed to a minor league contract, the non-roster veteran is hitting .412 in 14 games.
Asdrubal Cabrera hit a two-run double and a solo homer and Matt LaPorta had a two-run triple for Cleveland.
A few fans chanted "As-droo-ball," the first time Cabrera came to bat. After he homered in the fourth, most of the crowd joined in every time the shortstop batted and also when he stole second base. The switch-hitter, who missed six weeks last summer with a broken left wrist, is batting .406 in 11 games.
Elvis Andrus and David Murphy hit solo homers off Indians starter Carlos Carrasco, who allowed five runs and seven hits over 4 1-3 innings.
NOTES: Indians OF Grady Sizemore practiced sliding for the first time since having microfracture surgery on his left knee in June. He is expected to DH on Sunday. ... In night games, Texas is 0-4 and has been outscored 42-22. ... The Rangers made three errors and issued nine walks.
