By Mike Brandyberry

Fans have asked for minor league call ups all season, begging for new life and a spark to the team. Sunday, it appears they all received their chance. Eight of the twelve players Cleveland used spent some time in the minor leagues this year.

The Columbus Clippers can’t beat the Texas Rangers.

Zach McAllister (5-6) was tagged for four home runs and the Indians fell behind early and couldn’t come back, losing the rubber match of the series, 8-3. Meanwhile Derek Holland (10-6) had his way with the Indians, continuing their plight against southpaw pitching. Cleveland still has not won a series since July 24-26 against Detroit.

Texas drew first blood and took control of the game when 19-year old phenom Jurickson Profar made his Major League debut by hitting a home run in his first at bat to lead off the bottom of the third inning. After an out was recorded Michael Young reached on an infield hit and Josh Hamilton walked. After Adrian Beltre struck out, Nelson Cruz hit a ground rule double to right centerfield, scoring Young, moving Hamilton to third base and giving the Rangers a 2-0 lead.

David Murphy issued the crushing blow in the inning when he singled with two outs to score Hamilton and Cruz and give the Rangers a 4-0 lead in the middle of the third inning. For Cleveland, a four run deficit is a tall order to overcome.

Cleveland did their best to make it a game, however. In the bottom of the third inning Jason Kipnis reached via an infield hit with two outs and Carlos Santana hit his 14^th home run to cut the deficit to 4-2 after three innings.

Texas dealt the punishing blow to McAllister and the Indians in the top of the fifth inning when they hit three solo home runs. Hamilton and Beltre led off the inning with back-to-back homers, their 37^th and 27^th dingers, respectively. David Murphy followed suit an out later with a solo bomb, his 13^th of the season, to extend the Rangers’ lead to 7-2.

That would end McAllister’s day, allowing seven runs on 11 hits, two walks and four strike outs. The four home runs allowed by McAllister was his downfall.

Scott Barnes relieved McAllister and worked two scoreless innings before giving way to Frank Herrmann in the eighth inning. Herrmann allowed a single to Elvis Andrus and a double by Young to score him from first and extend the lead to 8-2, Texas.

Meanwhile, Holland controlled the Tribe all afternoon, with the exception of Santana’s home run. He pitched seven strong innings, allowing seven hits and only two runs, while striking out six and walking two. The Newark native locked up his hometown team for the third time in his career.

The Indians tacked on a run in the eighth inning of Mark Lowe when Santana doubled and Thomas Neal doubled him home for his first Major League hit. Neal spent this entire season at Double-A Akron before his promotion on Saturday.

Cleveland travels to Detroit for the start of a three game series on Monday with Corey Kluber (0-3, 5.16 ERA) facing off against Anibal Sanchez (7-11, 4.24 ERA). Game action is slated to begin at 1:05 pm from Comerica Park.

Photo: AP Photo/Mark Duncan