Thoughts on an 11-5 Rangers win

Rangers 11, Red Sox 5

• Remember how lousy yesterday’s blowout loss was? Well, the Rangers made up for it tonight.
• Solid if unspectacular start by Mike Minor, who went 6 innings, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits and 3 walks, striking out 4. He got into jams several times, including a bases loaded, no one out situation in the top of the fourth that resulted in a pair of runs scoring, but he kept things under control and gets credit for a quality start.
• Texas was up 10-3 after six, so Jeff Banister didn’t have to go to his close-and-late arms. That said, he also wasn’t going to entrust Jesse Chavez (who pitched two innings last night) or the newly promoted Yohander Mendez to protect the lead. Jose Leclerc got the 7th, and then part of the 8th, though he was pulled after 35 pitches with two outs in the 8th and two runs in, the first two runs he’s allowed in the majors this year. Tony Barnette got the final four outs, and several guys who have been ridden hard in the Ranger pen have now gotten two straight days off.
• Texas got to David Price early, scoring a pair in the bottom of the second when Joey Gallo got hit in the arm on a 3-2 pitch, Jurickson Profar tripled him home on a play where Jackie Bradley Jr. made an ill-advised diving attempt at a catch, and then Profar was brought home on a Renato Nunez blast to left field that J.D. Martinez -- not someone known for his fancy glovework — made a terrific running catch on for a sac fly.
• A Mookie Betts home run in the third made it a 2-1 game, but Nomar Mazara brought home a pair in the third with a double to left field, giving the Rangers a 4-1 lead, which was whittled down to 4-3 before Texas broke it open with their big fourth inning.
• Profar started the fourth with a walk, and then after a Nunez foul out, Robinson Chirinos singled to left. Ryan Rua followed that up with a single to center, plating Profar, and a Delino DeShields single to right loaded the bases with one out for Shin-Soo Choo. Choo struck out, bringing up Isiah Kiner-Falefa, and it looked like Price would wiggle out of it. But IKF took a very close pitch on 3-2, drawing an RBI walk, which chased Price from the game. Reliever Hector Velazquez promptly threw a wild pitch, making it a 7-3 game, and then Nomar Mazara came through with the most momentum-shifting play in baseball, the 2 out, 3 run home run, to turn it into a laugher.
• I’ve mentioned this before, I’m sure, but on a 3-2 count, on a borderline pitch, one that could go either way in terms of being called a ball or a strike, I think you’re best off letting it go. 50% chance of getting on base, versus either swinging and missing, hitting a ball in play that’s not a good pitch to hit, or, if you’re lucky, fouling it off to see another 3-2 pitch.
• Everyone in the Ranger lineup scored tonight, and everyone got a hit except for Joey Gallo (who got on via a HBP) and Renato Nunez, who should have had a double on the ball Martinez caught, and who got on base via an error in the late innings.
• Nomar was the big star of the night with his 5 RBI, 2 hit performance, but Choo, DeShields and Chirinos also registered two hits. Chirinos at one point had three hits, but one of his singles was taken away and changed to a fielder’s choice and an error.
• So a good start to the homestand, setting the stage for tomorrow’s Bartolo Colon/Rick Porcello matchup.