Rangers add to lead behind Derek Holland’s gem

The Rangers got another strong start for left-hander Derek Holland to beat the Cleveland Indians 2-1 Sunday afternoon at Globe Life Park.

The Rangers took three of four in the battle of division leaders. Texas opens a three-game series against the Seattle Mariners at 7:05 p.m. Monday. The Mariners and Astros are 8 1/2 games behind the Rangers in the American League West.

Pitching: Derek Holland held the Indians to one run on four hits over six innings to earn his first win since June 5. Holland struck out five and walked none. He allowed a run in six innings in first start last week since coming off the disabled list. Jake Diekman walked the leadoff hitter on four pitches but induced a 6-4-3 double play and worked a scoreless seventh. Matt Bush worked a perfect eighth before Sam Dyson closed it in the ninth to earn his 29th save. Francisco Lindor led off with a single against Dyson and stole second on swinging strikeout by Mike Napoli. Dyson walked the next two batters on eight consecutive pitches to load the bases. He struck out pinch-hitter Tyler Naquin before getting Abraham Almonte to fly out to end the game.

Hitting: The Rangers scored a run apiece in the third and fourth to take a 2-0 lead. Elvis Andrus walked with one out in the third and stole second. He was called out on the field but replay deemed he was safe and it was overruled. Ian Desmond promptly drove him in with a single to right. Adrian Beltre led off the fourth with 10-pitch walk, moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on Jonathan Lucroy’s single to left.

Notable: Holland has combined to allow two runs in 12 innings since returning from the DL ... Texas improved to 29-8 in one-run games ... Sunday’s game was the third game in Globe Life Park history without an extra-base hit ... paid attendance was 35,225.

This story was originally published August 28, 2016 at 4:58 PM with the headline "Rangers add to lead behind Derek Holland’s gem."