CINCINNATI _ Derek Holland allowed only one run in six innings Tuesday in his first start off the disabled list, but the Texas Rangers managed only five hits by three Cincinnati Reds pitchers in a 3-0 loss.
The Rangers have lost three consecutive games and were in danger of seeing their lead in the American League West fall to below five games.
Joey Votto collected a two-out RBI single off Holland in the sixth, an inning that started with a walk to pinch-hitter Tyler Holt. A two-out walk by Jeremy Jeffress turned into the second Reds run on an RBI double by Tyler Holt.
The Reds improved to 22-14 in the second half.
The Rangers hit several balls hard against Reds starter Dan Straily but had nothing to show for it. Among their near misses was an Ian Desmond line drive in the fifth inning that hit just off the right-field wall just foul and Carlos Beltran getting robbed of a leadoff double in the sixth on a tremendous running catch by Billy Hamilton.
The Rangers had their best chance in the seventh against Raisel Iglesias after Mitch Moreland and Nomar Mazara opened with singles. But Elvis Andrus failed to move them up with a sacrifice bunt. After Andrus bounced into a fielder's choice, the runners moved up on a wild pitch. With runners at second and third, both pinch hitter Jurickson Profar and Desmond struck out.
Holland had his first career hit, a chopper over the first baseman.
Holland's first start since June 20 was about as good as the Rangers could have expected. The left-hander allowed one run on four hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
