Holland gets no support as Rangers lose to A’s 3-1

Derek Holland allowed only two runs in six innings Monday night, but the Texas Rangers managed only four hits against rookie Sean Manaea and three relievers in a 3-1 loss to the Oakland A’s.

The Rangers played without the left-handed-hitting Prince Fielder and Mitch Moreland against Manaea, a left-hander. The Rangers had only one batter get to second base in the first six innings before scoring their lone run in the seventh.

Manaea allowed one runs in 6  2/3 innings to collect his first big-league win a start after allowing eight runs in two innings at Boston. The Rangers said that his off-speed pitches and funky delivery proved to be a tough formula for their first time seeing him.

“The slingy cross-fire delivery is a challenge when you haven’t seen it,” manager Jeff Banister said. “But give him credit for pitching better than he had been.”

Holland said that he was unable to put away hitters in the fourth after three no-hit innings to open. He hit Billy Burns with one out, gave up a blooper to Josh Reddick and walked Danny Valencia. Khris Davis then collected a sacrifice fly and Billy Butler followed with an RBI single all on two-strike pitches.

Holland was trying to us his sinker to get a groundball to get him out of the inning, but couldn’t put the hitters away.

“You’re one pitch away,” Holland said. “That’s what I was thinking the whole time. It’s one inning with too many pitches, but I was throwing strikes. I’m trying to put them away.”

Overall, he and Banister were pleased with the improvement he showed after consecutive rocky starts.

“He was much better,” Banister said.

Hitting: The Rangers mustered only four hits in their first time facing left-hander Sean Manaea, who allowed only run in 6  2/3 innings. ... Manaea caught a break in the second as Ryan Rua’s long drive caught the padding that extends upward in left-center field. If his shot is a yard more toward center field, it’s a homer instead of a double. ... Drew Stubbs drove in the run on a sacrifice fly in the seventh two batters after consecutive singles to start the inning.　

Pitching: Holland was better than in his past two starts, in which he issued 16 runs in five innings. He allowed two runs in six innings on 90 pitches against the A’s, with both runs and two of the three hits he allowed coming in a 39-pitch fourth inning. His lone walk and a hit batsman were also in the fourth. ... Holland’s biggest issue in the inning was an inability to put away hitters. He had nine-pitch at-bats with two batters and an eight-pitch at-bat with another. ... Luke Jackson, recalled earlier in the day, made his debut and allowed a two-out solo homer in his two innings.

This story was originally published May 16, 2016 at 11:36 PM with the headline "Holland gets no support as Rangers lose to A’s 3-1."