Hernandez makes most of first chance ARLINGTON - The Texas Rangers are showing no qualms about throwing Jose Hernandez into the fire. The 22-year-old rookie arrived at Arlington Stadium yesterday and found himself in the lineup, even before Julio Franco was scratched because of the flu, forcing Mario Diaz to start at second base. Hernandez started with a bang with a pair of singles in his first two career at-bats. "Hernandez is here to play," Rangers manager Bobby Valentine said. "He had himself a nice little game." Hernandez, called up when Jeff Huson went on the disabled list, is •here because of his fielding. His glove work in the minor leagues has earned him the nickname of "Ozzie," a reference to St. Louis Cardi- BY T.R. SULLIVAN Fort Worth Star-Telegram Rangers notes nals shortstop Ozzie Smith. Even with his two hits last night, hitting remains Hernandez's question mark. He was batting .239 at Tulsa when he got the call. "If he hits .240 here, it would be great," Valentine said. "He can do other things besides play defense. He runs pretty well and supposedly has some savvy for the game." An encouraging sign was Hernandez hit .304 in 14 games with the Triple-A Oklahoma City 89ers, getting a two-week stay there when Gary Green came to Texas while Diaz went on the disabled list. Hernandez's performance at Oklahoma City played a major part in his getting the call over Green. Hernandez started the season experimenting as a switch-hitter and it's a matter of how it feels tomorrow." Ryan, on the disabled list with a strained muscle in the shoulder, is not expected back at the earliest until the Rangers' three-game homestand with the Baltimore Orioles beginning Aug. 19, but he said he has no idea what his timetable is. "I'll just take it each day as it goes along, see how the shoulder develops and how it responds," Ryan said. Palmer, Franco scratched Franco, a last-minute scratch from last night's lineup because of the flu, is expected to be ready tonight. Palmer remains day-to-day with a sore left wrist. Palmer, who hurt the wrist Tuesday night trying to make a diving catch, tried to take batting practice yesterday but had trouble swinging the bat. "I took a couple of swings and it just wasn't ready," Palmer said. "'I'm going to try to hit soft-toss tomorrow, but it's still pretty sore.' Briefly Rafael Palmeiro, going 3 for 5 last night, is hitting .355 for the season and .507 in his past 19 games. . Rangers pitchers threw 185 pitches last night. Ali The breakers are 12-16 since the -Star was hitting below .200. When he returned to hitting right-handed full time, his average rose as he hit .266 in 63 games. "I'd still like to switch-hit," Hernandez said. "When I started switch-hitting, in my first 90 at-bats, I was hitting one-something and I'd go mad to the field and start making errors because I was so mad." Hernandez's presence along with catcher Ivan Rodriguez and outfielders Dean Palmer and Juan Gonzalez gives the Rangers four front-line players 22 years or younger in their first full season in the majors. Ryan continues Nolan Ryan threw outfield yesterday right shoulder and is mound tomorrow. "If everything goes said. "I don't have any throwing for 15 minutes in the without any pain in his hoping to throw off a right, will," Ryan pain throwing, but