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Twins, Rangers open series in Arlington

Jul 25, 2011 - 2:27 PM (Sports Network) - The Rangers and starter Derek Holland looked untouchable for a large portion of July, but both have shown some chinks in the armor as of late.

Holland will try to help Texas avoid a fourth loss in six games tonight when they begin a four-game series with the Minnesota Twins in Arlington.

The Rangers ripped off an impressive 12-game win streak from July 4-19, with Holland throwing a pair of shutouts over that span. However, the run of victories ended in Holland's last start on Wednesday, a 9-8 loss to the Angels.

The left-hander had yielded nine hits and struck out 15 over his back-to-back shutouts, but was drilled for seven runs on nine hits over 5 1/3 innings at Anaheim. He did not factor into the decision of the loss and is 8-4 with a 4.65 earned run average in 20 starts.

Holland faced the Twins on June 9 and also did not factor into that game, a 5-4 Twins victory. The 24-year-old was charged with four runs over 7 1/3 innings, striking out 10. He yielded homers to Michael Cuddyer and Delmon Young, but Justin Morneau was one of three Twins hitters to strike out twice against him.

Holland is 1-2 with a 5.63 ERA in five career starts versus the Twins.

Texas has been shutout twice over its current 2-3 stretch, including Sunday versus Toronto. Alexi Ogando yielded all three runs in a 3-0 loss over 6 2/3 innings as the Rangers saw a nine-game home winning streak come to an end.

The club still sits three games head of the Angels for first place in the American League West, but that advantage could shrink given its recent history versus the Twins. Texas is just 4-10 versus Minnesota since the start of last season, and dropped three of four at Minnesota from June 9-12.

The Twins have some work to do in their quest for another AL Central title. They came into a four-game series with the Tigers having won 14 of 20, but were bested three times in the set and now sit six games behind first-place Detroit.

Minnesota failed to salvage a split of the series with a 5-2 loss on Sunday. Francisco Liriano lasted just 2 1/3 innings and was charged with four runs as Detroit scored a pair of runs off wild pitches by Liriano and Anthony Swarzak, respectively.

"It always starts with your opening pitcher," said Twins manager Ron Gardenhire. "When you end up in your bullpen and you're playing too much defense early in games it takes all the momentum away from you."

Jim Thome and Young each drove in a run for the Twins, who begin a 10-game road trip versus the AL West tonight with Nick Blackburn on the hill.

The sinkerballer has pitched well over his past two starts, but did not factor into the decision of either outing. He threw seven shutout innings on July 15 versus the Royals in his club's 2-1 win before getting charged with four runs -- one earned -- on four hits and two walks on Wednesday versus the Indians.

Blackburn has hurt by a dropped fly ball in center by Ben Revere with the bases loaded as he struck out seven in his team's 7-5 win. The right-hander was still pleased with his outing, however.

"Today was the best I've felt in a long time," said Blackburn, who is 7-6 with a 3.87 ERA in 20 starts. "Today was nice and easy, I felt like I did back a couple weeks ago ... it was a good time to be out there, just to have that feeling again."

Blackburn faced the Rangers and Holland back on June 9 and also did not get a decision, giving up four runs -- two earned -- on 10 hits over 7 1/3 innings with six strikeouts. He has a lifetime mark of 1-2 in five starts against them with a 3.51 ERA.