Thoughts on a 3-2 Ranger win

Rangers 3, Angels 2. Texas is now 3-1 on the season, the Angels are 1-3.

• Derek Holland had a solid, workmanlike performance in his first start of the season, going 7 innings, giving up just 6 hits and 1 walk, striking out 5 and allowing 2 runs. One of the runs was on a 3rd inning Chris Iannetta home run, and the other was when Mike Trout doubled home Iannetta in the fifth with two outs. The Angels' fearsome combination of Trout, Albert Pujols and Josh Hamilton combined to go 1 for 11 with a walk and 4 Ks.
• Tanner Scheppers started the 8th inning with the score 2-2, and retired Peter Bourjos, Trout and Erick Aybar in order, dealing in a fashion that had people on Twitter saying that was as good as he has ever looked, which says something, given how good his stuff can be when he's on.
• Joe Nathan picked up his first save on the year, mowing down Pujols and Hamilton before allowing a Mark Trumbo walk -- yes, Joe Nathan walked Mark Trumbo. I was amazed, too. That's like Matt Harrison allowing a stolen base to Prince Fielder. Regardless, he retired Howie Kendrick to end the game and preserve the 3-2 victory.
• It was another game where the offense couldn't seem to get the job done with runners on base. Texas had 14 baserunners but only scored 3, leaving 11 on base. The runs came on an A.J. Pierzynski triple that brought Nelson Cruz home in the second, an Adrian Beltre solo homer in the 7th inning, and an Ian Kinsler RBI single in the 8th that brought Craig Gentry home. 3 runs was enough today, but it would be nice to convert some more of the opportunities that the team has had.
• I complained after the last game about Jeff Baker not pinch hitting for Mitch Moreland against a lefty. Today, after Gentry singled with one out in the bottom of the 8th, and lefty Scott Downs on the mound, Washington brought Baker in to hit for Moreland. Baker struck out. So much for that.
• The Rangers got three hit games from Pierzynski and Nelson Cruz, with Cruz now hitting .562 on the year. Kinsler and Beltre each had two hit games. David Murphy and Mitch Moreland continued to struggle, however, with Murphy going 0 for 4 with a pair of Ks, and Moreland going hitless with a walk in 2 at bats. Moreland is now 0 for 13 to start the season.