Rangers try to bounce back against Angels
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Derek Holland takes his sixth crack at win No. 10 on Saturday when the Texas Rangers continue a three-game series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim at Angel Stadium.
Holland, who is trying to become the first pitcher to record double-digit wins for the Rangers in three consecutive seasons since Rick Helling did so from 1998-2001, was banged around a bit in a loss to Oakland on Monday, as he allowed four runs (3 earned) and walked five batters in just 4 2/3 innings. He is 9-7 on the year with a 3.07 ERA.
"It was just a terrible performance ... flat out," said Holland, who is 1-3 with a 3.05 ERA in nine starts since the All-Star break. "Five walks is not acceptable. There's no reason for that. I didn't execute my pitches. I fell behind and walked people. You can't defend walks. It was all-around terrible. Today was on me."
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Holland has made 16 starts and three relief appearances against the Angels and is 7-5 with a 5.61 ERA.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, will counter with right-hander Garrett Richards, who is 5-6 with a 4.06 ERA. Richards beat the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday, but like Holland, struggled with his command, as he walked seven batters in five innings. He only allowed a run and two hits and lowered his ERA to 3.21 since rejoining the rotation on July 27.
"You can give Garrett an A for effort, he hung in there," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "Never really got command of counts. His ball-strike ratio was very poor and his first-pitch-strike ratio was bad. Couldn't really get his secondary pitches into the game, but when it's all said and done, it's a win for us."
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Texas fell out of first place in the American League West on Friday, as Mark Trumbo's three-run homer capped a five-run fourth and sent the Angels in front for good, lifting them to a 6-5 victory.
Ernesto Frieri gave up a run in the ninth, but was able to keep the lead intact and recorded his 31st save of the season, preserving the win for C.J. Wilson.
Wilson (15-6) won his sixth straight decision despite allowing four runs on seven hits and three walks over 6 2/3 innings. Mike Trout had three hits with an RBI and Erick Aybar scored twice for the Angels, who have won seven of their last nine.
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Texas, meanwhile, has dropped five of seven and fell one-half game back of the Oakland A's in the division.
Matt Garza (3-3) was torched for six runs -- five earned -- on nine hits over seven innings of work. Elvis Andrus and Alex Rios both homered and drove in a pair of runs in the setback.
"I threw a lot of strikes and got ahead of most hitters, I made one bad pitch," said Garza. "I left one over the plate and Trumbo knew what to do with it."
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Texas had won seven in a row from the Angels before Friday's loss and is still 10-3 this season against the Halos.