After entering Wednesday night's start in Tampa with an 0-3 mark in September and an ERA on the wrong side of 10.00, Derek Holland was in massive need of a rebound start for the Texas Rangers.
Holland watched as his offense staked him to an early 2-0 lead and then cruised through five innings before he ran into a little trouble in the sixth, but it took a bad defensive play to upend his day and send him to the showers after six innings and just 72 pitches.
After working around two-out trouble early and often, he appeared to be in line to get an inning-ending double play in the bottom of the sixth inning and would've likely headed into the seventh with at least a 2-0 lead.
Instead, Elvis Andrus flipped a sharp grounder to Jurickson Profar, who was playing second base with Ian Kinsler playing DH, and Profar turned the double play to first baseman Mitch Moreland but his wide throw pulled Moreland off the bag to extend the Rays' inning.
The next hitter, Sean Rodriguez sent a Holland offering over the left-field wall to tie the game at 2-2.
Holland deserved better on Wednesday night, but what's new with the Rangers' offense as of late? Most of their pitchers have deserved better. Either way, Holland got back on track on the road, where he has excelled this season, and now must keep that positive momentum going when he returns home to face the Astros next week.
