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Thoughts on a 5-1 Rangers win

Rangers 5, Phillies 1

MLB: Philadelphia Phillies at Texas Rangers Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Rangers 5, Phillies 1

  • This was one of those games that makes you remember what it feels like when this team is good. Like, when things are clicking, hitters are hitting, pitchers are in a groove.
  • Yu Darvish had his good command tonight, which meany any time a Phillie got a hit it felt like an accident, some sort of mistake in the cosmic order. That didn't happen often tonight, though — Yu gave up just four hits in 7 innings of work, allowing the one run, walking two and fanning 9.
  • Alex Claudio, proven eighth inning guy came in the pitch a scoreless eighth, and then Matt Bush (who was warming when it was a save situation at 3-1, and thus went ahead and came in even though it was 5-1 when the ninth started) had a scoreless ninth, and there was happiness over a game well played.
  • Perhaps most significant for the Rangers was Mike Napoli going 3 for 3 with a walk and a two run home run in the 8th that took away Bush’s save opportunity. I've feared Napoli may be done — or at least, done as a regular — but there's been signs of life here and there, and one can hope that this is a sign of things to come. Given that Carlos Gomez and Adrian Beltre are both sidelined, it isn't as if there are other options knocking on the door.
  • Nomar Mazara and Jonathan Lucroy, each of whom have also started slowly, each had two hits as well, with Mazara having a first inning home run that put Texas on the board first.
  • Anyway, a nice happy game which we need more of.