Rangers 2, A's 1
- You know how Lisalverto Bonilla will pick up a win, with Phil Klein closing it out, and Ryan Rua and Adam Rosales and Jake Smolinski getting big hits, and we'll say, "Just like they drew it up this spring?" Well, this game was just like they drew it up this spring. Colby Lewis threw 7 strong innings, with Neftali Feliz
getting the savepitching a scoreless 9th. Texas scored two runs today -- one when Elvis Andrus singled home Leonys Martin, and the second on an Adrian Beltre home run. In an alternate timeline, where every Ranger wasn't hurt, this game probably clinched the A.L. West for Texas. - I'm going to write more about Colby Lewis tomorrow in the next few days. But this was a nice capper to a surprising season from Colby, and in particular, a really solid second half. Once Colby was able to start throwing regularly between starts again, and got used to the way his new hip worked, he was a quality starting pitcher. Colby had a 3.86 ERA in the second half of 2014, in just shy of 90 innings. If he can do that in 2015, the Rangers will have a very good 4th starter.
- Colby's final line tonight...7 IP, 6 hits, 5 walks (1 intentional), 7 strikeouts, 1 run.
- The bats were largely quiet, putting up just 1 run against Jason Hammel. Of course, even with Hammel pitching well for them, Oakland lost today. The A's are now 2-11 in Hammel starts, and just 8-7 when Jeff Samardzija starts. The lesson, as always...don't trade for Cubs pitchers.
- Adrian Beltre walked it off. He had career hits number 2600 and 2601 tonight, as well as his 395th career home run. We're watching a Hall of Famer, and I'm hoping I get to see him get his 3000th hit as a Ranger.