Thoughts on a 5-3 loss

Yankees 5, Rangers 3

• That could have been worse, I guess.
• Part of a lost season is having the opportunity to sort through various freely available players and see if there is someone out there available for the taking who might be able to contribute going forward, Renato Nunez got a look earlier this season before being cast off, Carlos Perez got an audition as a possible backup catcher, and now Drew Hutchison has been brought in and is part of the rotation for the time being. Most of the scrap heap options don’t pan out, but every once in a while you find a Darren O’Day or a Robinson Chirinos.
• Hutchison was better today than he was in his disastrous first start. He allowed a two run first inning, but shut the Yankees down after that until the sixth, when he left a runner on base that Jeffrey Springs allowed to score. He still didn’t miss bats, though, striking out just 2, and he walked 4 batters. 3 runs allowed to this Yankee team over 5.1 IP is fine, and Hutchison will presumably get at least another start, but the peripherals weren’t encouraging today.
• The knock on Springs coming up through the minors was that he tended to succumb in high pressure situations, and a tight game in the Bronx against the team in pinstripes would seem to qualify. He allowed an RBI single to the first batter he faced, and didn’t appear to be his sharpest, but he retired the next three batters he faced before giving way to Chris Martin.
• Unfortunately, Martin’s second half struggles continued. Giancarlo Stanton hit a rocket for a single to greet him, then two batters later, Miguel Andujar broke the 3-3 tie with a homer that was the difference in the game, Alex Claudio pitched a clean 8th, but it was ultimately for naught.
• The recently hot Ranger offense was finally slowed down by the Yankees, putting up just 3 runs despite 8 hits and 6 walks. Shin-Soo Choo has 3 hits at the top of the order, and Rougned Odor had a pair of hits and a walk — they combined to score the three runs, one of which was on a balk when Odor distracted Dellin Betances with an aggressive lead from third. Only Elvis Andrus, Adrian Beltre and Joey Gallo joined them with hits, and Ronald Guzman’s four game home run streak against the Yanks was snapped, though he had two walks.
• Texas did make it interesting in the 9th, though. With Aroldis Chapman pitching, Isiah Kiner-Falefa pinch hit for Carlos Tocci and walked. After Choo struck out, Odor singled, and then an Elvis pop out was followed by a Beltre HBP, loading the bases with two outs for Jurickson Profar. Alas, he went down swinging, his third K in what was an 0 for 5 game.
• Texas will look to split the series tomorrow, and will likely have a new center fielder, as Delino DeShields is expected to be activated. Those of you who have been enjoying Tocci Time will have to be satisfied with late inning defensive appearances, I suspect.