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Holland 4-hits Blue Jays as Rangers win 3-0

Jul 31, 2011 - 1:36 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Derek Holland tossed a four-hit shutout as the Texas Rangers took down the Toronto Blue Jays, 3-0, in the second contest of a three-game set.

Holland (10-4) walked one and struck out five in his American League-leading fourth shutout this year. He is now tied with the Philadelphia Phillies' Cliff Lee for the major league lead in that category.

"It was very satisfying. Not only did he need to pitch well, but we needed to win. He kept us in the ballgame," Rangers manager Ron Washington said about Holland's performance. "It was fortunate that he went out there and pitched a pretty good game and kept them off the board."

Mitch Moreland and Mike Napoli both homered in the Rangers' second win in three games.

Brad Mills (0-1) made his first start of the season and allowed two runs on six hits and two walks while striking out five for the loss.

"Today I thought Brad (Mills) threw the ball very well. With the exception of one pitch to Moreland, he more than did his job" Blue Jays manager John Farrell said. "He certainly gave us the opportunity to not only stay in the game, but to win it."

Jose Bautista had two of Toronto's four hits as the Jays had their three-game win streak snapped.

Holland faced the minimum in six innings and only put runners in scoring position once in the game.

With two down in the second inning, Rajai Davis worked a walk and John McDonald followed by laying down a bunt towards the mound. Holland fielded the ball cleanly, but his throw to first was low and it bounced past Michael Young and to the wall, allowing Davis and McDonald to move to second and third.

Holland made up for his mistake, though, by getting J.P. Arencibia to look at a curveball on the outside corner for a called strike three to end the inning.

After Napoli led off the top of the second with a base hit, Moreland hammered a home run into the seats in right-center field to give Holland all the run support he would need.

The Rangers added another run in the eighth on Napoli's solo shot to dead center field off of reliever Jesse Litsch.

Game Notes

Toronto shortstop Yunel Escobar was thrown out of the game in the sixth inning by first base umpire Marvin Hudson after arguing a call at the bag...Texas improved to 4-5 against Toronto this season...Holland threw 69 of his 95 pitches for strikes.