Derek Holland Blanks Yanks on Two Hits in 2-0 Texas Win; Chase Utley's 3-for-5 Effort Wasted as Phillies Fall to Dodgers, 6-4

Players of the Day for Thursday, June 27, 2013

American League

The Texas Rangers finished up their three-game road series with a 2-0 victory over the Yankees on a two-hit shutout by starter Derek Holland (6-4).

Holland: 2-Hit Shutout

Ichiro Suzuki started the Yankees off with a leadoff single in the first, but was erased by a double play that ended the inning. After that, Holland allowed just one more hit - to Austin Romine, with two down in the third inning.

Issuing leadoff walks in both the fourth and seventh innings, Holland twice retired nine straight, as the Yankees could not get good wood on any of the lefty slinger's 92 pitches, 63 of which went for strikes. Holland fanned seven, including Vernon Wells three times.

The win was the second straight for the Rangers and completed a two games to one series win. It was Holland's first win since May 31 and his first shutout and complete game of the season.

Texas took a 1/2 game lead over the idle A's in the AL West, while the Yanks dropped into third place, 4 1/2 games off the pace being set by Boston in the AL East.

Weather permitting, the Yankees open a three-game series in Baltimore Friday night at 7:05 pm EDT, while the Rangers head home to host the Reds for three, the first game Friday at 8:05 pm EDT.

National League

Chase Utley

Philadelphia collected 14 hits, but could only push across four runs against Zack Greinke and three Dodger relievers while the more-efficient hosts scored six runs on seven hits for a 6-4 LA win.

Chase Utley singled, doubled and homered in five at-bats, drove in two runs and scored one, but his efforts were for naught as the Phillies stranded seven had a runner picked off first base, another thrown out attempting to steal second and grounded into three double plays.

Greinke gave up 12 hits over seven innings but still was good enough to pick up his fifth win against two losses.

The Dodgers have won six straight but are still in the NL West cellar, though they are just six games off the pace being set by Arizona, the only team in the division with a winning record.

Philly dropped 7 1/2 behind Atlanta in the East, and trail second place Washington by two games.

The game was the first of a four-game series in LA. Game two is set for 7:10 pm PDT on Friday.

Today's Trivia: When was the last time a Cleveland player won the AL MVP award and who was it? (answer tomorrow)

Yesterday's Answer: George Bell is the only Toronto Blue Jay to ever win an MVP award. His came in 1987.