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Holland, Rangers play rubber match with Rays

Sep 7, 2011 - 3:01 PM (Sports Network) - Derek Holland takes aim at his third straight win this afternoon when the Texas Rangers play the rubber match of a three-game series against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.

Holland won for the seventh time in his last eight decisions on Friday in Boston, as he held the high-powered Red Sox lineup to just two hits over seven scoreless innings to run his record to 13-5 on the year, while lowering his earned run average to 4.13.

The Rangers have scored 21 runs in Holland's last two starts and are now averaging 7.52 runs per nine innings when he is on the mound. That leads the majors and is now just ahead of the club record set by Aaron Sele in 1999, when he received 7.46 runs per nine innings.

"It's something to be thankful ... [for by] being blessed with that run support," Holland said. "But I still have to go out there and make pitches and keep the momentum on our side."

Holland beat the Rays the last time he faced them and is 3-1 in four starts against them despite a 7.29 ERA.

While Holland is tied for the American League lead with four shutouts, his teammate, C.J. Wilson, threw the first one of his career on Tuesday, scattering five hits in an 8-0 victory.

Wilson (15-6) beat the Rays for the second time in six days, striking out six and walking three for his sixth career complete game and third of the season. He also became the first left-hander in franchise history to win 15 games in back-to-back seasons.

"He had a good cutter working tonight, tight slider, moving his fastball around," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "He was in control."

The offense allowed him to relax, banging out 12 hits to rebound from a 5-1 loss in the opener of this three-game series on Monday. Tampa Bay's James Shields threw a complete game in that one.

"It was kind of like yesterday's game in reverse," Rays manager Joe Maddon said Tuesday.

Ian Kinsler and David Murphy hit leadoff homers in the first and second innings and Murphy finished 4-for-4 with four RBI and two runs scored for the AL West-leading Rangers.

The Rays had a three-game winning streak stopped. Jeff Niemann (9-7) was knocked around for nine hits and seven runs in just 4 2/3 innings to take the loss.

Getting the call for the Rays today will be lefty David Price, who is 12-12 with a 3.41 ERA. Price fell for the second time in three starts on Friday to Baltimore, as he allowed three runs and four hits in seven innings. He also fanned 11 batters in the loss and has struck out 25 in his last two starts.

Price has had his problems with Texas, going 0-3 in five starts against them with a 6.26 ERA.

Texas is 4-3 against the Rays this season.