ARLINGTON, Texas -- Derek Holland doesn't play the what-if game.

He's not going there with you and doesn't care to review what might have been if he hadn't tripped over his dog at the top of those steps last winter.

It's not a joking matter about what happened to the Texas Rangers' left-handed starter. He suffered a severe knee injury requiring microfacture surgery.

The Rangers had no thoughts regarding his return.

He kept fighting to come back as his team struggled with its own injuries and inconsistencies. Holland kept working out in private making brief appearances in the home clubhouse. Finally he was able to pitch in the minors for Round Rock and Frisco.

He had a start in Las Vegas scratched because of back spams.

But Holland kept fighting and people who know him well said that's part of his DNA.

Sunday afternoon Holland won his first game since Sept. 23, 2013 in a 1-0 win over the Seattle Mariners.

Holland pitched seven shutout innings and struck out five, giving up only five hits.

"You don't predict anything like that with the accident," Holland said. "That happened but the main thing was I wanted to come out and prove I could bounce back and all the hard work I've been doing is going to pay off."

Holland's knee was an issue during his rehab. Former manager Ron Washington, whom Holland described as a father to him when he resigned, worked on fielding drills all the time. Washington wanted to see Holland not drag his leg because he understood the importance of fielding the position. Holland was tested running to first base Sunday and fell down, joking with interim manager Tim Bogar that he had slipped on an ice patch.

In reality, the playoff-contending Mariners were falling down against Holland. The Rangers needed to end this eight-game slide and give Bogar his first win since taking over for Washington Friday night.

Holland established the strike zone with his fastball and threw offspeed pitches to keep Seattle off balance. On the bases, left fielder Daniel Robertson made a wonderful throw to get Robinson Cano trying to stretch a single into a double.

In his two starts this season, Holland's ERA is 0.64 and he has posted consecutive seven-plus inning starts where he has given up one run or fewer and no walks for the first time in his career.

"Two outings and he's been unbelievable," Bogar said.

You kind of wonder what this Rangers season might have been if Holland were around from the beginning.

Maybe there's less pressure on Yu Darvish to be perfect. Colby Lewis' second-half rise along with Holland might have pushed the Rangers in playoff contention.

The young kids on this rotation probably aren't forced into situations they're not ready for.

Holland has already told the front office to depend on him in 2015, and these final starts of the year is more confirmation he's ready.

"I think we're probably way better off," Bogar said. "I think everybody would like Derek to go out every fifth day going forward in 2015. That's the goal and we're a better team with him out there."