The Rangers Are 85-71

Derek Holland threw a complete game shutout, Alex Rios hit for the cycle, and the Rangers defeated the Astros 12-0 on Monday night.

Per the Saber metric known as a Game Score, the 83 Holland posted last night rates statistically as his 2nd-best start in 2013. The only game to eclipse it came on June 27th in New York, where he posted a 2-hit shutout on only 92 pitches. That day his Game Score was 88. It is the 3rd time this year Derek has posted a GS better than 80;

Despite Derek Holland’s shutout mastery, one still has to question why he was in the game to start the 7th, 8th, and 9th — when the Rangers led 12-0 — especially after arguably the worst tactical week of Ron Washington’s tenure as manager. I know, I get it. Shutouts are cool and all. Complete games are growing scarcer and scarcer in modern-day baseball. But come on. Derek Holland is scheduled to pitch the penultimate game of the regular season this Saturday against the Angels, and after throwing 109 pitches — of which roughly 30 came after the game was well in hand — there comes a point where enough is enough.

The offense grabbed a 2-0 lead in the first and never looked back. Alex Rios went 4-4 with a 1B, 2B, 3B and HR; Ian Kinsler and Elvis Andrus combined to go 5-8 with 4 runs scored, and it was the first time since the last time Texas faced off with Houston that the club scored 12 runs.

With Cleveland’s off day, the Rangers are now an even 1.0 game back in the standings with 6 left to play.