Rangers lose to Yankees 12-4

The Texas Rangers continue to struggle with their starting pitching.  Against the Yankees on Wednesday night, it was Derek Holland who took the loss. 

Holland allowed 6 runs in 5 innings.  He gave up 2 home runs, 5 walks, and hit a batter.  Half of all batters Holland faced reached base.  Though only his second loss of the season, both have come against the Yankees.

The 12-4 loss was the 4th straight for Texas, losers of 7 of the last 9.

The Rangers bullpen didn’t fare any better than the starting rotation.  Mark Lowe, Darren Oliver, and Neftali Feliz combined to give up 6 runs in 3 innings, including 3 home runs.   Catcher Yorvit Torrealba put it simply, “We’re finding a way to score three or four runs, but the pitching has not been good lately. Pitching behind in the count has been the big issue. When we were playing well, we were pounding the strike zone.”

The Texas offense had production, especially the top of the order.  Ian Kinsler, Elvis Andrus, and Josh Hamilton were a combined 7-for-12, accounting for all 4 of the Rangers runs.

The Rangers will face the Yankees for the final time in the regular season this afternoon in New York.