Thoughts on a 5-3 Rangers win

Rangers 5, Rays 3

• Kind of a weird game today, as the pace was slow, both teams scored runs early, and then a bunch of goose eggs went up on the board once the starters were out.  Yovani Gallardo labored so much he qualified for UAW membership, giving up a run in the first and two runs in the second, then getting lifted with one on and one out in the sixth, but he ultimately did his job.  5.1 IP, 11 hits, 1 walk, 5 Ks, just 3 runs allowed.
• This has seemed to be the trend for Gallardo in the second half...work slowly, labor, don't get very deep into the game.  In his last 8 starts, he's gone 6 innings only twice, and in both of those starts he's gone exactly 6 innings.  If the Rangers make the playoffs, and if Derek Holland pitches well after he returns to the rotation -- both pretty big "ifs" -- it is going to be interesting to see whether Gallardo or Colby Lewis would be named the #4 starter for a playoff series.
• For all the complaints about Gallardo in the second half, incidentally, he's still sporting a spiffy 3.39 ERA on the year.  He's been pretty solid for the Rangers.
• Sam Freeman, Keone Kela, Sam Dyson and Shawn Tolleson came in and did work, facing just one over the minimum (via a single off of Tolleson) while shutting out the Rays over 3.2 IP.  If you're keeping track at home, that's a guy acquired for cash considerations (who was also waived and outrighted earlier this year), a 12th round draft pick, a guy acquired for two fringe prospects, and a waiver claim.  You don't have to spend a ton of money to get useful relievers.
• The Rangers didn't do any damage after the fourth inning, but they racked up five runs in that span against newly off the d.l. Rays starter Drew Smyly, and that was enough.  The big games offensively were from Delino DeShields (a hit, two walks and a steal), Ryan Strausborger (3 hits, including his first major league home run) and Adrian Beltre (a home run and a sac fly).  Oh, and Mike Napoli got his first two hits of the year as a Ranger.  DeShields also had a really nice catch in the outfield in the early innings to save Gallardo from a big inning.
• Pretty much everyone the Rangers are chasing won today, as well, other than Anaheim (they play tonight), so Texas didn't gain any ground, but Texas is now two games above .500.  Oh, and the Rays, also right there with Texas in the wild card race, lost, obviously, so that's good.
• That was career home run number 406 for Beltre today -- he's now one behind Duke Snider on the all time list.
• I still can't believe there were Rangers fans complaining about the Rangers picking up his 2016 option before the 2015 season started.  What's wrong with you people?