Rangers snap losing streak in Holland's return
ARLINGTON, Texas — Just call Derek Holland the Streak Stopper.
Actually, Holland was long gone when the Rangers finally snapped a five-game losing streak in the 10th inning Saturday.
Holland lasted six innings in the 4-3 win over the Twins. It was his first start in a Rangers uniform since going on the disabled list June 7 with left shoulder fatigue.
The Rangers hadn't seen Holland pitch since June 5, but they also hadn't won since June, period. So Holland can take some credit for being a Streak Stopper.
"If that's what you want to call it," Holland said, chuckling at the notion. "I think it belongs to the bullpen. They did the finishing touches."
Indeed, the Rangers bullpen pitched four shutout innings after Holland departed with the score knotted at 3-3.
But with the Rangers scuffling for a win, and healthy pitchers, Holland's six-hit performance did the job.
"I thought Holland did a great job," manager Ron Washington said. "He got his rhythm down. He started getting the ball down, started executing. Tonight he had a good changeup, that worked for him."
Holland allowed five of the first eight hitters he faced to reach base and allowed two runs in the second inning when he was roughed up for three hits.
But he finished well by retiring nine of the last 10 batters he faced, with the exception being a solo home run by Josh Willingham in the sixth.
"I think everything was good," Holland said. "That one inning, I got a couple of balls that got away from me."
It wound up being Holland's seventh quality start of the season. He allowed six hits while walking two and striking out four.
He also lasted long enough to throw 88 pitches, 55 for strikes. He reached 73 pitches in his previous rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock.
"You could see in the sixth inning he was getting the ball up," Washington said. "He was getting a little fatigued, but he battled for us."
Holland felt he could have gone longer if needed.
"I'm not tired at all," Holland said. "They're probably just doing it as a precautionary thing. I thought I was going to get to go back out. "
No need to, with the Rangers' bullpen putting a stop to the Twin's scoring.
"They picked me up from where I left off," Holland said. "It was unbelievable. Great job by them."
Follow Keith Whitmire on Twitter: @Keith_Whitmire