Thoughts on a 7-1 Rangers win

Rangers 7, Astros 1

• How about that Wandy Rodriguez, huh?
• Rodriguez last night was almost a duplicate of Ross Detwiler the night before -- gave up a run in the first inning, and then went into cruise control, shutting the Astros down the way.  This is one of those nights to remember when we complain about why it is only the Rangers who random guys off the scrap heap seem to shut down.
• It looked early on like this was going to be difficult...Wandy gave up a home run in the first to Luis Valbuena, and then loaded the bases in the second with two outs and Jose Altuve due up.  You had, when this was going on, an internal cringe, a feeling that the Rangers were going to squander a big early lead, that we'd be seeing Anthony Bass and Stolmy Pimentel and be trashing the bullpen.  But instead, Wandy got Altuve on a tapper back to the mound, and then retired the next 18 batters he faced after that.  It was quite the performance.
• Unlike two nights ago with Detwiler, the Rangers' bats showed up early and provided a lot of runs.  Shin-Soo Choo continued his recent hotness with a leadoff double to the left-center field gap, then Elvis gap on with a very nice bunt single.  A Prince Fielder double and a Kyle Blanks single led to a Carlos Peguero homer, though a great throw from Jake Marisnick nailed Fielder at home.  So before the Astros even got to hit, it was 4-0.
• The Rangers added two more in the top of the third on an Elvis single-steal, Beltre double combination, and then a Carlos Corporan sac fly that brought Beltre home.  That gave the Rangers a 6-1 lead, and things never seemed in doubt after that.
• The big days offensively were by Kyle Blanks, who went 3 for 4 with a homer in the fifth, and Elvis, who was 2 for 3 with a walk and a steal, as well as a very nice play in the field.  Everyone in the lineup had a hit except for Delino DeShields, Jr., who was playing in place of Leonys Martin and his bad wrist.
• The Rangers now have the same number of losses as the A's and the M's, and are one game back in the Angels in the loss column.  The Astros are way ahead in the A.L. West, but no one else in the division is playing well right now.