Whenever Joe Nathan takes the mound with a lead in the ninth inning, the Texas Rangers feel good about their chances. They had the same feeling Thursday against the Indians when Nathan came in to close out a 4-2 lead.
After all, Nathan had converted a franchise-record 31 consecutive saves going into it and hadn't blown a save since April. But that streak -- and the Rangers' bid for a three-game sweep -- came to an end when Nathan had an uncharacteristic night.
Nathan didn't record an out, giving up a solo homer to Ezequiel Carrera to start the ninth and then a two-run shot to Jason Kipnis two batters later as the Indians went on to a 5-4 victory.
"Joe has been lights out for us all season long," Michael Young said. "Tonight wasn't his night. Sometimes that happens, but we've got one of the best closers in the game. Anytime we give him the ball with a lead in the ninth, we feel like we're in great shape."
Nathan said he felt good but didn't have "that zip" on the ball. He wasn't concerned about dead arm or working on three consecutive nights.
Here are a few other postgame notes:
* Derek Holland took a no-decision, allowing two runs on seven hits with one walk and seven strikeouts over seven innings. He had a shutout going into the sixth inning, but gave up a two-run homer to Matt LaPorta. That was the only pitch Holland regretted, but he said he feels confident with his location and pitch selection his last few starts.
* Elvis Andrus had a two-out triple in the ninth inning to extend his hitting streak to 32 games against Cleveland. That is tied for the fifth-longest hit streak vs. one opponent in the majors since 1945.
* The Rangers passed the three-million mark in attendance Thursday for the first time in franchise history. They had an announced crowd of 36,102, giving them a season total of 3,003,143. Texas joins Philadelphia and the New York Yankees as the only teams to reach the three-million mark so far this season.
-- Drew Davison
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