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Post-Game Show: Blue Jays 18, Rangers 10

D-tails
• Boxscore, AL West Standings, AL Wild Card Standings

Story of the Game
The Rangers returned home Monday night and presented the “crowd” of 16,675 fans with a little bit of everything: A terrible start by popular rookie LHP Derek Holland, a stirring comeback by the offense and a deflating ninth-inning meltdown by the bullpen that killed any chance of a comeback for the ages.

Holland couldn’t command any of his pitches and allowed five runs in the first. He was gone four batters into the fourth after allowing a grand slam to Adam Lind that gave Toronto a 10-0 lead. The Blue Jays extended it to 11-0 on Rod Barajas’ second homer of the game in the fifth.

Then the Rangers hitters went to work. A seven-run fifth inning was capped by OF Nelson Cruz’s three-run homer, his 29th homer of the season. The Rangers scored in each of the next two innings to cut the lead to 11-10, but they couldn’t get the tying run home. Toronto reeled off seven more runs in the ninth against RHPs Jason Grilli and Pedro Strop.

Said Holland: “I’m just going to forget about this one. I’ve got to get ready for my next start. I couldn’t command or establish any of my pitches. I kept trying to attack the zone, but nothing worked. I was very poor. It was just an all-around bad outing.”

Three Up
• RHPs Doug Mathis and Darren O’Day combined to allow just one run on three hits in five innings of middle relief to get the Rangers back into the game.

Taylor Teagarden's career-high three hits was a highlight for the Rangers, but not enough to topple the Blue Jays. (Photo R.P. Washburne)

• C Taylor Teagarden set a career high with three hits and raised his batting average back over .200 to .206. He also threw out a pair of runners trying to steal against him.
• Nobody hit the scoreboard with a punt.

Three Down
• RHP Jason Grilli couldn’t keep a one-run game close in the ninth inning to give the Rangers a chance to complete their unlikely comeback. He allowed three extra-base hits to start the inning. He’s failed to retire in three of five outings since returning from the DL.
• RHP Pedro Strop’s second outing as a Rangers wasn’t nearly as electric as his first. He walked three batters and allowed two hits to account for four runs in Toronto’s seven-run ninth inning.
• The crowd wasn’t overwhelming for a team in the middle of a playoff race.

Stat o’ the Game
23: Consecutive home games in which 3B Michael Young has a hit after a single on Monday. His streak is now tied with Ivan Rodriguez (1995) for the longest home streak in Rangers Ballpark history. Young also has an 18-game hitting streak in any location, the longest active hitting streak in the majors.

Player of the Game
Here are your candidates: Toronto C Rod Barajas (2-for-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI); OF Adam Lind (3-for-5, 2 HRs, 8 RBI); Rangers RHP Doug Mathis (3 IP, 2 H,  1R);  RHP Darren O’Day (2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 baserunner). Vote here.

Sunday’s Player of the Game: Post-game show pre-empted.

Flying Saucer/Flying Fish Depot Double Dip
Flying Saucer: Rangers lose, 18-10. No winners.
Flying Fish: Rangers walk just once. No winners.

Home Run Pool
No winners.