Nippert pitches well but exits early

Right-hander Dustin Nippert threw fewer than 60 pitches and was trailing only 1-0, but with four days off looming and everyone in the bullpen available, manager Ron Washington brought in left-hander Derek Holland to face Ichiro Suzuki with the bases loaded and two outs in the fourth. Nippert appeared to be out of the inning, but he booted a Ronny Cedeno grounder to extend the inning. Cedeno was given a hit, which is ridiculous. The decision to go with Holland didn't work out. Suzuki hit the ball about 40 feet for an infield single to score a run, and Holland walked Russell Branyan to force in another run. He struck out Jose Lopez, but the Rangers now trail 3-0. The offense has had three good chances against Erik Bedard, who has thrown 68 pitches in four innings. But he has made good pitches when needed to escape trouble.