Derek Holland and bullpen lift Texas Rangers to series win
Derek Holland managed to pitch six innings against the Baltimore Orioles without letting any opposing hitter score a run. While there was a concession of five hits and two walks in the game, the hurler did his ultimate best to guide the Texas Rangers to
a series finale victory, away from home.
The bullpen was not far behind in saving the club from a sticky situation, as Neftali Feliz played a good saving ninth to wrap things up at Camden Yards.
However, the Orioles had their chances against the Rangers. They were only unfortunate to fail in getting the upper hand in the game. Probably it was Holland, who was lucky in the tie up fixture.
The 24-year old was in a position to leak runs early against Mark Reynolds but he was able to push out the hitter, nevertheless. Reynolds has a reputation of man-handling left-handers but Holland triumphed in his contest with the power hitter.
"I put myself in those situations by making too many pitches", Holland said. "The main thing is working on getting ahead of hitters and not falling behind - keep my guard up, keep going after hitters and not give in".
Reynolds struck out against the pitcher in the first when the O’s were down two men and they were two men on the first two bases. A similar situation came about in the third when Derrek Lee was on third base and Vladimir Guerrero was on second. Reynolds,
having a 5-for-7 statistic on scoring opportunities, faltered again as he grounded out to third.
In the fifth, Nick Markakis, rallied the O’s as he drove a single. Lee came up with a double next. With first base vacant, Guerrero walked in. Holland showed composure, as he flew out the former Rangers’ man at right field. The player had been 2-for-2 against
the hurler before the fly-out. It was a 94 miles per hour fastball that got the designated hitter out in the end.
"I didn't want to give him anything good to hit", Holland said. "He's a great hitter. You have to make him hit your pitch. It was a fastball down and in. I felt I had good command of my fastball today. I felt I had good command of all my pitches".
Feliz made a shocking contribution in the game, as well. He was faced with a volatile situation in the eighth as two O’s batters were on bases while two were out. With Luke Scott on base, Feliz got the right outcome, as he flew the hard hitter out. In the
ninth he repeated his save as he lined out Markakis to leave Felix Pie stranded on second base.
It was Ian Kinsler’s two run homer in the seventh that gave the Rangers a relatively safe lead. The O’s were unlucky nevertheless.
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