TORONTO -- Derek Holland pitched his league-leading fourth shutout of the season, allowing only four hits and using just 95 pitches as the Rangers beat Toronto 3-0.
Mitch Moreland hit a two-run homer in the second and Mike Napoli had a solo blast in the eighth as a unique lineup did just enough to turn back soft-throwing left-hander Brad Mills and two Blue Jays relievers. Josh Hamilton, Elvis Andrus and Nelson Cruz did not play.
Holland came to life after a visit from manager Ron Washington with two outs in the second inning. Holland had retired the first two hitters before issuing a walk and uncorking an errant throw on an infield single that put runners at second and third.
Holland struck out J.P. Arencibia looking to start a stretch of 12 straight outs. After throwing 20 pitches in the second, Holland threw only 25 over the next three innings. He had a five-pitch seventh and was at 82 pitches when he started the ninth.
He retired Colby Rasmus on a grounder to first, got Jose Bautista looking and Adam Lind on a hard smash through the middle to complete the shutout.
Moreland's homer was the first of his career in the regular season against a left-hander. He connected off Jonathan Sanchez in Game 3 of the World Series last year.
-- Jeff Wilson


Comments