Rangers Beat Angels
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Left-hander Derek Holland’s return from four inactive months is proving timely for the Texas Rangers’ playoff hopes.
Holland conceded just three hits in eight innings in the Rangers’ 2-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night in front of 39,889 at Angel Stadium.
“His stuff looked really crisp,” Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. “He was throwing the fastball in the strike zone and getting the slider under some swings. There were not many good looks at him.”
Holland (3-1), who was activated from the 60-day disabled list on Aug. 19, posted his second straight win. The left-hander retired 13 of 15 batters between the first and fifth innings, including eight in succession, collected five strikeouts and induced 12 groundouts while yielding one run, two walks and the three hits. Holland’s fastball reached 95 mph.
“I can’t say enough about the job Derek did,” Texas manager Jeff Banister said. “He carried the velocity all the way through. The velocity actually spiked back up in the eighth inning.”
Holland’s performance came six days after he pitched his first shutout of the season, a 6-0 win over the Baltimore Orioles, in which he permitted three hits and matched his career high with 11 strikeouts.
“Typically, when guys come off an extended DL period, they don’t come back that sharp with all their pitches,” Banister said. “He’s been really impressive in that department.”
After missing 113 games this year because of a strained subscapular muscle in his
left shoulder, Holland expressed confidence in his ability to pitch at full strength.
“Everything feels good,” he said. “They asked me right before I came off the DL, ‘Are you ready to go?’ When you say you’re ready to go, you’re ready to go full steam.”
Right-handed closer Shawn Tolleson picked up his 29th save by pitching a perfect ninth inning. Tolleson struck out center fielder Mike Trout, made designated hitter Albert Pujols ground out and struck out first baseman C.J. Cron to preserve Holland’s win
The Rangers posted their seventh victory in nine games to move within two games of the first-place Houston Astros in the American League West while retaining their lead of 1 1/2 games over the Minnesota Twins for the final wild-card spot.
The Angels, whose three-game winning streak ended, remained 5 1/2 games behind the Astros but fell 3 1/2 behind the Rangers in the wild-card race.
Texas broke a 1-1 tie in the top of the eighth against right-handed reliever Joe Smith (4-5).
First baseman Mitch Moreland singled up the middle and was replaced by pinch-runner Ryan Strausborger, who took third base when shortstop Elvis Andrus singled under the glove of second baseman Taylor Featherston, who was playing toward second base in a defensive shift.
“It was a run-and-hit,” Scioscia said. “Taylor’s responsibility was to the bag. He made a nice adjustment getting back to the ball but he just didn’t quite get it.”
Strausborger came home on second baseman Rougned Odor’s sacrifice fly.
The Rangers had to settle for a 1-0 lead in the top of the first after loading the bases with one out against right-hander Jered Weaver.
Right fielder Shin-Soo Choo received a one-out walk, moved to second base when designated hitter Prince Fielder walked and scored on third baseman Adrian Beltre’s single.
The Angels responded with a run in the bottom of the first. Trout tripled off the wall in right-center field, then came home when Holland momentarily bobbled a grounder from Cron before retiring Cron at first.
“I was disappointed,” Holland said. “I’m not saying I would have gotten the double play, but who knows? It might have been closer if I wasn’t being Pele out there.”
Texas again loaded the bases with one out in the fourth on Moreland’s single, Andrus’ double and left fielder Will Venable’s intentional walk. But Weaver kept the score tied by getting catcher Bobby Wilson to pop out and center fielder Delino De Shields to ground out on an accidental checked swing.
“We really didn’t hit him hard,” Banister said. “With the plethora of off-speed stuff that he threw up there, he never gave in to any of our hitters.”
Weaver threw 106 pitches in six innings and collected three strikeouts while permitting one run, four hits, three walks (one intentional) and two hit batters.
