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Three takeaways: Derek Holland makes strong case for postseason rotation

ARLINGTON - Takeaways and observations from the Rangers' 2-1 win over Cleveland Sunday:

-- O-H-I-O: Derek Holland continued his dominance over the Cleveland Indians, which could become a major factor in determining the makeup of a postseason starting rotation. Holland is 2-0 against Cleveland this season and has allowed just two runs over 12 innings. For his career, he's 5-1 with a 2.62 ERA in 55.1 innings. Holland is unbeaten in Cleveland, which is where the No. 3 starter in the rotation would likely get his start if the Rangers and Indians meet in a postseason series.

-- Reversal of fortunes: The Rangers are 20 for 40 in manager's challenges this season, far better than a year ago and their first run Sunday came as a direct result of a successful challenge. Elvis Andrus was initially called out trying to steal second on Nomar Mazara's strike out, which would have made it the final out of the inning. The Rangers challenged second base umpire Lance Barrett's call and got the reversal. Ian Desmond then singled Andrus home.

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-- Go-Go Gomez: Carlos Gomez has been ice cold at the plate since homering in his first at-bat as a Ranger, but he found ways to make contributions in other ways Sunday. Gomez went high into the left field wall to take away an extra base hit from Jose Ramirez in the fifth. Then, with two men on and two outs in the sixth, he was able to recover after initially misreading Mike Napoli's liner to make an inning-ending catch.

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BREAKDOWN

The arms: LHP Derek Holland retired 12 straight from the final out of the first until hitting Brandon Guyer with two outs in the fifth. He allowed only one ball out of the infield in that stretch, got six ground balls and four strikeouts. ... Holland did not allow a walk for only the second time this season. ... LHP Jake Diekman, brought on to protect a one-run lead to start the seventh, threw seven straight balls before getting a strike. He fought back to get Jose Ramirez to bounce into a double play. ... Rangers pitchers had a streak of 14 consecutive scoreless innings against Cleveland hitters Saturday and Sunday. ... RHP Sam Dyson loaded the bases with one out in the ninth before getting out of the jam.

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The bats: Both of the Rangers' runs began as walks. ... 3B Adrian Beltre worked his way to a 10-pitch walk to start the fourth. ... Carlos Gomez extended his hitless streak to 14 at-bats. ... Jurickson Profar has three hits in his last 33 at-bats. He had a strikeout and a pair of grounders Sunday.

The gloves: 3B Jurickson Profar charged Carlos Santana's spinning grounder and made a nice Adrian Beltre-esque off-balance throw for the first out of the fifth inning. ... C Jonathan Lucroy threw out Brandon Guyer trying to throw on a pitch that got away. Guyer got a late break, but Lucroy made a strong throw. ... With the tying run on first in the ninth, Lucroy blocked a ball in the dirt and kept in front of him to hold the runner.

SCORING HIGHLIGHTS

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Rangers third: Ian Desmond singled to right to score Elvis Andrus from second. Andrus reached on a walk and stole second - although he was originally called out before a replay review extended the inning. Rangers 1, Cleveland 0

Rangers fourth: Adrian Beltre walked, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on Jonathan Lucroy's single to right center. Rangers 2, Cleveland 0

Cleveland sixth: No. 8 hitter Abraham Almonte singled to lead off the inning and stole second. He scored on Jason Kipnis' two-out single. Rangers 2, Cleveland 1