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Thoughts on a 3-2 Rangers loss

The Neal Cotts/Neftali Feliz combo doesn't come through

By Adam J. Morris
Bob Levey

Astros 3, Rangers 2

  • Nick Martinez survived another start today.  He wasn't particularly good -- he needed 104 pitches to get through 5.1 IP, allowed 6 hits and walked 3 batters while striking out 4 -- but he survived, giving up just 1 run after getting bailed out by Roman Mendez in the 6th inning.  His ERA is down to 5.14 on the season.
  • Roman Mendez, similarly, survived.  He wasn't particularly good -- he allowed a hit and a pair of walks in 1.1 IP, striking out 2 -- and got pulled with the bases loaded and two outs in the 7th, with Jason Castro, who hit a grand slam off of Mendez earlier in the series, due up.  But Cotts got Castro, and so Mendez got out unscathed, lowering his ERA to 1.80.  Mendez has been hit-and-miss this year, but given that he is out of options and he's done okay since getting called up to the majors, I expect him to be in the Rangers bullpen at the start of 2015.
  • Unfortunately, Cotts and Neftali Feliz ended up blowing the Rangers' 2-1 lead.  Matt Dominguez took Cotts deep with one out in the 8th, tying the game, and then Cotts hit Jake Marisnick with a pitch.  Marisnick stole second, and with two outs, Ron Washington brought Neftali Feliz into the game to face Robbie Grossman.  Grossman walked, bringing up Jose Altuve, who had a line drive single to center field for what seemed like his 57th hit in this series.  That scored Marisnick, giving the Astros a 3-2 lead.  Chris Carter followed that up with a single to center, but Leonys Martin threw Grossman out at home to end the inning.
  • So Feliz faced three batters today, and allowed a walk and two singles.  That's not good.
  • Also, Neal Cotts' ERA is now up to 4.01 on the season.  He's not been very good in the second half.
  • The bats, once again, were useless.  The Rangers picked up 6 hits and 3 walks on the day.  Alex Rios was 2 for 3 with a walk, and Adrian Beltre drew a pair of walks.  No one else got on base more than once.
  • Man, I'm ready for this season to be over.
  • If we're looking for other positives, Daniel Robertson hit a double today, and Ryan Rua got his first major league RBI.
  • In other A.L. West news, the A's lost, 8-1, to the Angels today, and are now five games back.  Bob Melvin is mad: