Holland Stellar Over 8 Innings In 4-0 Rangers Win
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Derek Holland gave up four hits in eight stellar innings, Nelson Cruz and Mitch Moreland each hit a home run and Ron Washington became the 'winningest' manager in Rangers history as Texas beat the Oakland Athletics 4-0 on Sunday.
Adrian Beltre had two hits and drove in a run for the Rangers, who have won six of seven to move within 2 1-2 games of the AL West Division leading Athletics.
Nate Freiman had two hits for the A's, who have lost four of five.
Holland (9-6) walked two and matched his season high with 10 strikeouts as he ended a personal two-game losing streak.
A.J. Griffith (10-8) lasted 6 2-3 innings, allowing four runs — three earned — on five hits. He walked one and struck out seven.
Washington, who coached for Oakland for several years, passed Bobby Valentine with his 582nd win.
Griffin has allowed a major-league leading 28 home runs this season and became the first Oakland pitcher to give up two or more in four consecutive starts since Mark Redman did it in 2007.
Holland, who has an 0.81 ERA in his nine wins, beat the A's for the fifth straight time. He also improved to 7-1 in 12 road starts.
Joe Nathan walked Josh Donaldson and allowed an infield single to Yoenis Cespedes to open the ninth. He got pinch hitter Brandon Moss to ground into a force out and got Alberto Callapso to hit into a game-ending double play.
The Rangers took advantage of a two-out fielding error by Cespedes in the first inning to take the early lead. Ian Kinsler reached second on the play and scored when Beltre singled.
Cruz led off the second inning with his 27th homer of the year and Moreland hit a two-run shot in the seventh.
Meanwhile, Holland did not allow a runner past second base. He retired 14 of 15 batters during one stretch.
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