AMERICAN LEAGUE

Holland shuts down Yankees, Profar handles rest

NEW YORK - As the outs piled up, the little voice in Derek Holland’s head kept getting louder.

“You can execute this pitch! You can throw it!” the Texas left-hander told himself, over and over. “You’re going to make this pitch!”

He certainly did.

Holland tamed a team that often tagged him, throwing a two-hitter as the Rangers finished up an impressive road trip by beating the New York Yankees 2-0 on Thursday.

How special was this performance? Not since Seattle’s Matt Young in 1983 had a visiting left hander shut out the Yankees on two or fewer hits.

“You think positive thoughts,” Holland said. “You can’t let any negativity get in there. I haven’t had great success against these guys. They’ve destroyed me.”

Holland began the game at 0-5 with an 8.85 ERA against the Yankees in regular-season play. He had shown a glimmer of success, going 1-0 and throwing 5 2/3 shutout innings against them in the 2010 American League Championship Series.

Holland (6-4) threw his sixth career shutout. It was the lowest-hit shutout by a visiting Rangers pitcher against the Yankees since the Texas franchise moved from Washington for the 1972 season.

“Tremendous,” Texas Manager Ron Washington praised.

Before the game, Washington said he hoped Holland could pitch a complete game and give his relievers a rest.

“I just wish I had that kind of magic in the Powerball,” Washington said following the game.

Jurickson Profar homered and scored twice, while fellow rookie Engel Beltre recorded the first two hits of his major-league career. Texas went home leading the AL West after going 5-1 on its swing to St. Louis and Yankee Stadium.

Holland did more than give the bullpen a break. He also spared the Rangers a possible inconvenient return to the Bronx. A huge rainstorm had been due later in the afternoon, and Texas isn’t scheduled to play in New York again this season.

Holland, 26, struck out struck seven, walked two and didn’t give up a hit after the third inning. His 92-pitch performance produced his first victory in five starts.

A lead off single by Ichiro Suzuki in the first and a two-out single by Austin Romine in the third were the lone hits off Holland. New York managed a mere one runner after a lead off walk in the fourth.

ANGELS 3, TIGERS 1 (10) Albert Pujols hit a tie breaking double in the 10th inning and Los Angeles beat host Detroit for their ninth consecutive victory over the Tigers. Mike Trout had four hits and was in the middle of the decisive rally for the Angels, who completed a three-game sweep. RED SOX 7, BLUE JAYS 4 Jon Lester pitched into the eighth inning before leaving with an apparent injury, and Dustin Pedroia homered in a seven-run second to help host Boston beat Toronto in the opener of a four-game series.

TWINS 3, ROYALS 2 Samuel Deduno (4-2) pitched seven sharp innings and one of Justin Morneau’s two doubles drove in Minnesota’s first run, sending the Twins to a victory over visiting Kansas City.

ORIOLES 7, INDIANS 3 Chris Davis drove in the tie breaking run on a fielder’s choice grounder in a five-run fifth inning, and host Baltimore rallied for a victory over Cleveland.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

CUBS 7, BREWERS 2 Matt Garza struck out 10 in seven solid innings and Dioner Navarro hit a three-run home run, sending visiting Chicago to a victory over Milwaukee. Garza (3-1) had his third consecutive strong outing, allowing 1 run on 8 hits and 1 walk while throwing 101 pitches.

DIAMONDBACKS 3, NATIONALS 2 (11) Didi Gregorius drove in the go-ahead run with a bunt single in the 11th inning and Aaron Hill homered as visiting Arizona beat Washington.

METS 3, ROCKIES 2 Marlon Byrd hit a go ahead homer in the eighth inning and threw out a runner from right field in the ninth to lead New York past host Colorado in a makeup game for the one that was snowed out on April 17.

Thursday’s games

NATIONAL LEAGUE Chicago Cubs 7, Milwaukee 2 Arizona 3, Washington 2 (11) NY Mets 3, Colorado 2 Philadelphia at LA Dodgers, (n)

AMERICAN LEAGUE Texas 2, NY Yankees 0 LA Angels 3, Detroit 1 (10) Baltimore 7, Cleveland 3 Boston 7, Toronto 4 Minnesota 3, Kansas City 1

Sports, Pages 22 on 06/28/2013

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