Thoughts on an 8-2 Rangers loss

Rays 8, Rangers 2

• Well, the Rangers obviously weren't going to win every game from here on out, four game winning streak notwithstanding.  Yesterday was kind of ugly, though.
• Yovani Gallardo was pulled surprisingly early yesterday, in the 6th inning, with two on, one out and one run in.  Gallardo had allowed just a single run heading into the 6th, on a solo homer, but he was pulled at just 92 pitches when an error by Elvis Andrus and a pair of singles brought a run home.  Jeff Banister went to lefty Alex Claudio to face lefthanded hitting David DeJesus, Kevin Cash countered by going to righty-swinging Brandon Guyer, and Claudio, for the second time in a row after relieving Gallardo, allowed a three run homer to the first batter he faced.  That made it 5-0, and Gallardo was visibly displeased on the bench.
• The Rangers did rally in the top of the 8th, after having been shut down the first seven innings by Rays starter Nathan Karns.  Adam Rosales led off with a homer, which broke up the shutout, and then Delino DeShields, Jr., singled, chasing Karns in favor of Xavier Cedeno.  Shin-Soo Choo lined a single to center, and Elvis followed up with a bunt single, loading the bases for Prince Fielder and Adrian Beltre with no one out.  Alas, Fielder fanned, and while Beltre drove the ball a long way to center, it was caught at the wall, becoming a sac fly instead of what would have been, with a few more feet, a game-tying grand slam.  Kyle Blanks drew a walk to load the bases back up for Carlos Peguero, but sadly, Peguero struck out, snuffing out the rally, and setting the stage for the Rangers to go down quietly in the 9th.
• Two more games against Tampa this weekend, and both the Rays' probably starters have been scratched, Jake Odorizzi with the flu, Drew Smyly with a shoulder issue that has landed him on the d.l.  Hopefully, the Rangers can split those two games before heading home to face the Royals on Monday.