Game 117: Beltre flashes leather, Rangers win in The Bronx

Through five innings, Rangers’ starter Derek Holland resembled the Derek Holland that shut down the Tigers on Saturday, but he faltered late and the resilient Rangers came through, posting a 10-6 win, snapping a three-game losing streak, and salvaging one game in the four game set.

With a makeshift lineup in place, as Ian Kinsler and Nelson Cruz did not start, the team gave Holland some early run support with two runs on an Adrian Beltre single in the first.

Mike Olt led off the third with the first double of his career. Elvis Andrus and Michael Young then walked to load the bases with no one out, but Ivan Nova sat down Josh Hamilton, Beltre, and David Murphy in order to avoid the threat.

Murphy would redeem himself in the sixth, however, as he drove in Hamilton with a single. The Rangers got to Nova again when Gentry grounded a fielder’s choice to short, plating Beltre for the fourth run of the game.

The “tale of two Hollands” took hold in the sixth when he could not keep the Bronx Bombers at bay any longer as they struck him for five runs. The Yankees notched two runs on three hits before Andruw Jones blasted a two-out two-run homer just on the fair side of the left field foul pole. Casey McGehee skied a ball to right field when Olt, who got his first career start at the position, failed to make the catch. That chased Holland, and Tanner Scheppers gave up a hit to Russell Martin to put the Yankees up 5-4.

Murphy came up big again in the seventh, driving in Young with a double to tie the game. Joba Chamberlain came in and struck out Geovany Soto to get the second out. After an intentional walk to Mitch Moreland, Craig Gentry played hero with a two RBI single to put the Rangers back on top 7-5.

Michael Kirkman worked out of a jam in the bottom of the seventh, after the Yankees scored on a Mark Teixeira fielder’s choice, he struck out Jones to end the innings, limiting the damage to one run.

The Rangers knocked in 3 more insurance runs for Joe Nathan to come on in the ninth despite the non-save situation.

One of the keys to Thursday’s afternoon game, besides the clicking Rangers’ offense, was the defensive play of Adrian Beltre at third. He made numerous stops that most regular fielders would just knock down or let go through to left field, further proving why he is one of the best defensive third baseman in the Majors.

The team has no more games against the Yankees in the regular season, but there is a chance that they will meet again in the playoffs. When that time comes, the Rangers will be ready to start a winning streak at Yankee Stadium.

Though the team dropped three of four in New York, they head to Toronto with confidence as they maintain a 6.5 game lead over the A’s and Angels, as both teams play night games.

First pitch on Friday is set to take place at 6:07 and will have J.A. Happ (8-10, 5.04 ERA) making his third start for the Blue Jays against Yu Darvish (12-8, 4.54 ERA), who is coming off a win over the Tigers on Sunday.