Holland Takes Tough-Luck Loss

You really couldn't even argue the fact if you tried.

Sure, Yu Darvish was one out away from a perfect game and Nick Tepesch looked great in his major-league debut Tuesday night, but Derek Holland has been the most impressive starting pitcher for the Texas Rangers through the first three series of the season.

Holland went eight innings on Wednesday in the second-coldest game the Rangers have ever played in Rangers Ballpark, fighting through a rough third inning when he walked three batters but allowed just one run, and finished the day allowing two runs in a 2-0 loss to the Rays.

Holland fell to 0-1 on the season after pitching well in his 2013 debut against the Los Angeles Angels, when he went seven innings and allowed two runs in a no-decision that the Rangers won 3-2.

We've talked about it since spring training — Holland is an integral key to the Rangers' success this season and could easily be the single most important player on this year's squad in regards to his success directly translating to the team's.

So far so good for Holland, who's still searching for his first victory, as he's thrown 15 innings in his two starts giving up 11 hits and four runs.

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