ARLINGTON, Texas _ No one player currently with the Texas Rangers has seen Derek Holland pitch as much as shortstop Elvis Andrus.
They crossed paths in 2008 for four Holland starts at Double-A Frisco, and each debuted in the major leagues in 2009. They were together for the Rangers' two runs to the World Series.
So, Andrus knows how good Holland has been at times in his career and how good he can be. Andrus knows that the way Holland pitched Tuesday and again Sunday can be a boon for the Rangers as they charge toward the postseason.
"If he just continues to pitch the way he did today, he's going to help us a lot," Andrus said.
Holland helped the Rangers edge the Cleveland Indians on Sunday, allowing one run in six innings in a 2-1 victory that included two key catches by left fielder Carlos Gomez and a ninth-inning turnaround by closer Sam Dyson.
For Holland, it was a near repeat of his start Tuesday, when he came off the disabled list and allowed one run in six innings. The differences? He didn't walk anyone Sunday, and the Rangers won the game.
"What we always talk about is being consistent, and I want to make sure I'm showing that," Holland said. "I know it's two games in a row. The way I'm going to look at that is whoop-de-doo. I've got to go out there and make sure I continue to do this."
The victory pushed the Rangers' lead in the American League West to 8 { games over the Seattle Mariners and Houston Astros, who both lost Sunday. The Mariners are next on the Rangers' all-important homestand, with three games Monday through Wednesday, and the Astros follow next weekend.
Don't expect the Rangers to get comfortable with their cushy lead with 31 games to play. At 77-54, the Rangers need to win only 11 more games to reach their 2015 victory total that clinched the AL West title. The Mariners and Astros must win 20.
"We don't look at the standings," manager Jeff Banister said. "Everybody announces it. It's out on the board, but these guys treat every day individually. It's about that day, winning that day, playing that day."
Ian Desmond and Jonathan Lucroy drove in the Rangers' runs in a game in which neither team collected an extra-base hit for only the third time in Globe Life Park's 22-year history.
The Desmond RBI single off Danny Salazar came on the first pitch after the Rangers successfully challenged the call that Elvis Andrus had been thrown out at second base to end the third inning.
"The replay was huge," Banister said.
Holland was in command most of the day, repeating a mechanical change that eases the stress on his shoulder and keeps him in line as he delivers each pitch. He allowed a two-out single to Francisco Lindor in the first inning before retiring the next 12.
The last out was a remarkable leaping catch by Gomez at the left-field wall to rob Jose Ramirez of a double.
The Indians finally broke through in the sixth, when Jason Kipnis delivered a two-out RBI single. Lindor followed with another single to bring up Mike Napoli, who throughout his career has handled left-handers.
Holland was allowed to face his former teammate and batterymate, and retired Napoli on a liner to left that appeared to freeze Gomez before he retreated and made a running catch.
"This is the first week I've been playing in left field," said Gomez, who is hitless since homering Thursday in his first at-bat with the Rangers. "I'm trying to see every single pitch and take advantage of everyone trying to help me. When you do something to help your team win, it's something you feel excited about."
Holland was a little more direct.
"Gomez is a hell of an outfielder," he said.
Jake Diekman threw seven consecutive balls to open the seventh but managed a scoreless inning, and Matt Bush dominated in a perfect eighth to send the game to Dyson in the ninth.
Lindor ripped the first pitch for a single before Napoli struck out. But Dyson walked Carlos Santana and Ramirez on eight pitches to load the bases with one out.
After throwing another ball to pinch hitter Tyler Naquin, Dyson came back to strike out the former first-round pick from Texas A&M and got Abraham Almonte to pop to center field to end it.
"It was a little bit of a challenge today," Banister said. "I look at it this way: He got the job done. It may not look to everybody like the way you want it to work. The bottom line to me is the game's over."
