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Thoughts on a 4-1 win

By Adam J. Morris
May 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) watches from the dugout during the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE
May 16, 2012; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers starting pitcher Yu Darvish (11) watches from the dugout during the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Rangers Ballpark. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-US PRESSWIRE

Rangers 4, A's 1

  • If anyone ever asked me, I would recommend not proposing marriage to your girlfriend on the Rangers Live postgame show.
  • Ho hum, another boring Yu Darvish start. For the fifth time in eight starts, Darvish allowed no more than one earned run, going 7.2 innings, giving up 4 hits, walking 2, and striking out 7. Jemile Weeks reached base three times against Darvish. So did the other eight batters in the A's lineup, combined. Darvish now has a 2.60 ERA on the season, and since allowing 4 runs in his first inning of the season, Darvish has a 1.90 ERA.
  • Mike Adams came in with two on and two out in the 8th, threw 5 pitches, got out of the inning, and then gave way to Joe Nathan in the 9th inning. This isn't anything new, but it makes me wonder how this is sensible pitcher usage. Why not leave Adams in the game to pitch the 9th, with a 3 run lead, and with Adams having barely broken a sweat in the 8th?

  • The offense was not terribly exciting today. Adrian Beltre hit one of his patented on-one-knee home runs, a line drive to right field in the 4th that brought home Josh Hamilton and gave the Rangers a 2-1 lead. The Rangers then got lucky later in the inning...Nelson Cruz singled, Yorvit Torrealba walked, and they both advanced on what turned out to be a very costly passed ball. Craig Gentry then hit a routine grounder to third...but when Josh Donaldson took his time throwing on to first, Gentry beat the throw for an infield single, with Cruz scoring. Elvis Andrus followed that up with an RBI single, giving the Rangers their fourth (and final) run of the game, and ending the scoring for both teams.
  • Michael Young had a day off today. Ian Kinsler was supposed to play today, but ended up sitting out because of a stomach bug. I'm wondering if Kinsler was feeling the effects of the stomach bug yesterday, given that Ron Washington was apparently adamant before yesterday's game that Kinsler wasn't playing and wouldn't even pinch hit (and didn't pinch hit, even though the perfect opportunity for him to hit arose).