Patton recalled; Holland available in bullpen

ARLINGTON -- The Rangers called up right-handed reliever Spencer Patton for the final game of the season Sunday. Manager Jeff Banister said Derek Holland also was available out of the bullpen for Game 162 against the Angels.

Holland last pitched on Thursday against the Angels. He has been a starter most of his career but has made nine postseason relief appearances as opposed to just four starts. Sunday would be the normal day Holland would throw in the bullpen in between starts.

"We'll have him available in the bullpen and as the game goes on, if he needs to throw his [bullpen session], he can do that," Banister said prior to first pitch Sunday.

Right now, Holland is lined up to pitch on Tuesday if the Rangers are in the American League Wild Card Game presented by Budweiser. Yovani Gallardo is lined up to pitch on Monday if the Rangers have a Game 163 to decide the AL West against the Astros.

Holland and Patton gave the Rangers 14 relievers for Sunday's game. Sam Dyson and Shawn Tolleson had pitched in five straight games, and Keone Kela was dealing with a sore right elbow.

"With the number of games we could possibly play, we decided an extra arm could help," Banister said.

Patton was 1-1 with a 9.00 ERA in 27 appearances for the Rangers. He finished the season pitching for Triple-A Round Rock and last pitched on Sept. 20 in the Pacific Coast League playoffs. He has been back home in Illinois since then. He spent Saturday at the Illinois-Nebraska football game and was home in bed when the Rangers called.

"I wasn't expecting this," Patton said. "They just told me the bullpen was beat up and they needed me, so here I am."

The bullpen got beat up on Saturday. The Rangers used eight relievers trying to close out a 10-6 victory. But after Dyson pitched a scoreless eighth, Tolleson and Ross Ohlendorf allowed five runs in the ninth in an 11-10 loss to the Angels.

"We have had a formula of success that has worked well for us," Banister said. "It has been talked about and praised. We used the same formula yesterday."

Banister said they thought about sending out Dyson for the ninth but decided against it.

"Every time we have pushed him out for a second inning, he is not as sharp as the first," Banister said. "I'll take full responsibility. I have no problem. … We were in a situation where we were up four runs. How we used the bullpen was very similar to how we used it this whole stretch. After the fact, it didn't work out. This game can be cruel that way. It didn't work out the way we wanted it to. We have to continue to play on. That's what these guys have done."