Thoughts on a 3-1 Rangers loss

Astros 3, Rangers 1

• I think we can all agree that the most unfortunate thing about this loss is that the Rangers now can't clinch the Silver Boot tomorrow.
• Oh, and there's there injuries.  Yu Darvish was lifted after five innings with what was initially reported to be a shoulder issue, but which Darvish said after the game was a sore neck.  He said he expects to make his next start, so I'm not going to worry about it.
• More concerning is Adrian Beltre.  Beltre left the game in the 8th inning due to a hamstring issue, and watching him pull up after rounding second on the Prince Fielder single where he got hurt, you could tell something wasn't right.  Beltre has been dealing with balky hamstrings for, well, for as long as he's been in Texas, it seems.  We shall have to see tomorrow how serious this is, and if a d.l. stint is required.
• Even if Beltre isn't going to the d.l., it seems likely that the Rangers will make a move to add a position player tomorrow.  Texas is using a three man bench, which would be down to a two man bench if Beltre isn't available.  Most likely, you'd figure a reliever would be sent down to make room for a bat -- presumably Joey Gallo, since third base would be open.  Drew Stubbs could be activated, if he's ready, I guess, though he hasn't gone on a rehab assignment.  The Rangers have apparently indicated Shin-Soo Choo has to have two consecutive nine inning outings in the field before he will be activated, so he wouldn't be an option tomorrow.
• If the Rangers send down a reliever, one of the two final pitchers tonight would seem to be on the bubble.  Luke Jackson pitched a scoreless ninth but didn't look great.  Tom Wilhelmsen, back from the minors, pitched the seventh and eighth, allowing two runs to score in the seventh, which cost Texas the game.
• On the plus side, Shawn Tolleson got back n the mound and pitched a scoreless sixth.  Hopefully that's a sign of good things to come for him.
• Everyone in the starting lineup had a hit for Texas tonight, and Nomar Mazara had a pair of hits, but still, the offense didn't seem to really feel like it was clicking tonight.  Ian Desmond did make a really awesome throw to cut a runner down at home, that was probably the highlight of the game from a Rangers perspective.
• Anyway, for all the carping about Wilhelmsen tonight, it's kind of hard to win a game when you only score one run.  Texas will try to take the series tomorrow with Martin Perez on the mound, and will hopefully score more than one run.