A fourth innings blitz and Derek Holland pushes Texas Rangers to 9-1 win over Cleveland Indians
The Texas Rangers needed just one inning to make a big difference with the bat and they did just that when they beat the Cleveland Indians 9-1 on Tuesday, September 14 at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington.
A fourth innings blitz propelled the team to an eight run lead. Derek Holland was on the mound to put the defensive stance against the Indians.
Holland allowed just one run in the fifth in his seven innings of pitching. His tenure secured no relevant damage from the Indians. He conceded six hits and three walks, while picking up six strike-outs. The steaming hurler is now on 14 wins and 5 losses,
in the season.
David Huff was clearly the player that struggled during most of the game as the Indians’ hurler conceded eight runs from eight hits. He only lasted four innings before Indians’ manager Manny Acta replaced him in the fifth inning with Chad Durbin.
Things initially progressed quietly. Neither side made a single hit count till the fourth when the Rangers moved in to the strike zone to invoke damage on the visitors. Josh Hamilton was walked and he eventually scored when Michael Young slashed a RBI double.
Adrian Beltre came in next but he popped a fly ball and got out to Shelley Duncan at left-field. Mike Napoli came in after him and he slammed the shot through the same direction. This time it went straight to the stands for a two-run homer. Young and Napoli
got to the score cards in style.
Murphy flew out to Duncan next and it was Yorvit Torrealba who came in to run the plate with a signal. He later went to second base when Craig Gentry smashed a line drive for a single. The ball was deflected by third baseman Lonnie Chisenhall and Torrealba
occupied second base. Chisenhall made another error in the very next play when Ian Kinsler shot himself to first base on fielder’s choice.
Torrealba scored when Elvis Andrus came in to smash a line drive single to Huff. With the score 4-0 and the bases loaded, the Indians sent in their coach to talk to Huff. Unwilling to turn over the ball Huff continued to take the mound. Josh Hamilton returned
in the inning to face him and it spelled the end of the Indians’ hope in snatching a winner.
The Texas outfielder smashed a grand slam to the left to top the score board with four more runs. The Indians were now devastated and Huff ended his misery with a Young fly-out.
With the score 8-0, Chisenhall came into the fifth to face Holland and he pulled a run for Cleveland with a strong homer to right-field. His efforts were in vain as the Indians lost the game 1-9. Kinsler added the final run for the Rangers in the bottom
of the sixth with a solo homer off Durbin.
Huff may have been saved in the fourth if Chisenhall would not have committed two costly errors in the encounter. Nevertheless, it was strategy again that failed the club.
The Rangers put in a brilliant performance as they managed to dominate the Indians throughout the match. Cleveland will be looking to improve their performance and stay competitive in the remainder of the regular season.
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