Rangers Snap Five-Game Skid - Crush Jays 8-1

The Rangers offense broke out, cranking out eight runs on 16 hits, while the much-maligned pitching staff regrouped and shut down the Blue Jays potent offense for seven innings. Nelson Cruz (above) led the way for Texas with a home run and two RBI for the game. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press, Frank Gunn)

After allowing a total of 15 runs over the last two games against the Toronto Blue Jays (72-67), the Texas Rangers (76-63) pitching staff tightened up Wednesday night.

Led by starter Derek Holland (W, 3-3), Rangers' pitching kept the Jays power-hitters off balance all game long. Holland pitched five scoreless innings, striking out eight, and got the win for the first time since May 17. The 23-year old lefty pitched quickly and allowed only three hits as he had no problem hitting every part of the strike zone against the Jays.

"I was using all my pitches," Holland said. "Me and [catcher Bengie Molina] were definitely on the same page."

Texas jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first after a lead-off homer by Ian Kinsler and an RBI single from Jeff Francoeur. Kinsler and number two hitter Michael Young rebounded after an 0 for 10 night Tuesday, going 4 for 9 from the plate with four runs and two RBI.

"We forced them to get back on their heels a little bit and that's the type of baseball that we play normally," Kinsler said. "It's nice to get back to that."

Nelson Cruz led the balanced attack at the plate, going 3 for 5 with a two run homer deep over the center field wall to seal the game for the Rangers in the ninth inning. Six Rangers had at least two hits, and every starter had at least one aside from Christian Guzman.

The Rangers' bullpen, who had also faced much criticism after some poor performances over the last few games, rebounded with four quality innings. Matt Harrision, Darren O'Day, Darren Oliver, and Neftali Feliz combined to allow only two hits and one run on, what else, a solo homer from Jose Molina.

"Derek and the other pitchers did a great job and we stopped them from putting up runs via the home run," Rangers manager Ron Washington said. "I do believe that as long as we can keep them in the ballpark, we're going to beat them."

Keeping it in the ballpark is easier said than done against these Blue Jays, as they did hit another homer in the loss. But, while it's only the second win of September for these Rangers, it must feel good to prevent tying a season-long six game losing streak - and to avoid seeing the division lead fall to six, as the Oakland A's also won Wednesday.

The end of the four-game series between these two teams will take place Thursday night, with a 6:07 scheduled start time. Colby Lewis (9-12, 3.96 ERA) will get the start for Texas, while Shawn Hill (1-1, 5.25) will make his fourth start of the season for Toronto. Lewis has won a decision since July 17, and is coming off an eight hit, nine run outing in which he didn't get out of the fourth inning.

News and Notes:

• Elvis Andrus (hamstring) is expected to return back to the lineup Friday night for the start of the series against the New York Yankees. Cliff Lee (back) is expected to start the final game of the series Sunday night.
• Jeff Francoeur, making his third start of the season as a Ranger, had easily his best game. Francoeur went 3 for 4 for the game and knocked in his first RBI with Texas, a single to center in the first that made it 2-0 Rangers.
• The solo homer in the eighth is the second allowed by Rangers' reliever Darren O'Day in his last two appearances, but only the third all season long. All three were solo shots.

(Portions of this article were taken from The Associated Press)