Thoughts on a 2-1 Rangers win

Rangers 2, Red Sox 1

• How about that game from Phil Klein?  Pressed into duty as a spot starter, having converted to starting just a few weeks earlier after having spent his entire major league career in the pen, Klein gives up just 1 run in 5.1 IP, striking out four and walking one.  Klein may end up getting sent back down today, or he may get another start, but either way, it was an impressive effort from Klein
• The bullpen threw 3.2 shutout innings in relief of Klein, with the biggest moment being in the bottom of the sixth.  Klein walked David Ortiz, then gave up a hard-hit ball to Hanley Ramirez that was caught by Shin-Soo Choo.  I thought Klein would be out by then, but he was left in the game and induced Mike Napoli to hit into what looked like was going to be a 5-4-3 GIDP.  Adrian Beltre dropped the ball, however, meaning there were two on and one out.  Klein was lifted for Alex Claudio, who gave up a single to Shane Victorino to load the bases before striking out Brock Holt.  Tanner Scheppers then came into the game and got Xander Bogaerts to fly out to end the inning.
• Scheppers pitched the 7th, and then the Ross Ohlendorf/Shawn Tolleson combination pitched the 8th and 9th.  I don't think we were anticipating Ohlendorf and Tolleson closing out a lot of 1 run games this year.  But it worked.
• Texas and Boston both had a lot of hard hit balls that found gloves yesterday -- the quality of contact made seemed to be better than one would expect from a 2-1 game.
• The Rangers got both of their runs early off of Boston starter Joe Kelly.  In the second, a pair of singles by Adrian Beltre and Mitch Moreland led to an Elvis Andrus sac fly, and Robinson Chirinos led off the third with a home run.  That was all the scoring the Rangers did.
• There were blown opportunities in both the 7th and the 8th, when the Rangers got a runner to third with one out, only to see the final two batters of each inning fan.  In the 7th, it was Leonys Martin on third, having gotten there with a double to left, and then advancing to third when Hanley Ramirez dropped the ball trying to throw it.  In the 8th, it was a Delino DeShields double followed by a Prince Fielder walk, then a double steal.  Once again, Jeff Banister opted to run for Fielder in the 8th inning when he was the trailing runner, this time with Adam Rosales.  I'm still concerned Banister is pulling Fielder too early and too often for a pinch runner in situations that don't warrant it, risking the Rangers not having Fielder in the game later on.
• Texas looks to take the series tonight.  Go Rangers...