Thoughts on a 5-2 Rangers loss

Rockies 5, Rangers 2

• Well, so much for starting the season off with a series win.
• Corey Kluber left the game after one inning due to shoulder tightness. Nothing I can say about this other than that I hope it isn’t serious. Chris Woodward said after the game that Kluber felt fine warming up in the bullpen before the game, but felt the shoulder tighten up in his first few pitches. We will see how Kluber feels tomorrow.
• Joe Palumbo came in in relief and had two terrific innings, retiring six straight batters, four via strikeout. And then in the top of the fourth his command evaporated...he gave up a walk, then a homer to Trevor Story. After a pair of singles, Palumbo got Daniel Murphy to hit a comebacker, but he threw high to second, resulting in everyone being safe. With two runs in, no outs and the bases loaded, Palumbo was pulled for reliever Jesse Chavez.
• This has been what we have seen too often from Palumbo in his major league appearances...stuff that looks great, and then a lapse in command that results in runs scoring. Palumbo has starter stuff, but he’s going to have to do a better job with the consistency of his command if he’s going to be in a rotation long-term.
• Chavez escaped with just one run scoring, on a sac fly. He pitched two shutout innings before giving way to Nick Goody, who retired just two batters while allowing another Story home run and a single before giving way to Ian Gibaut.
• Gibaut threw a scoreless inning yesterday, and followed it up by retiring all four batters he faced today. On the broadcast they said the team impressed upon him the need for him to improve his command if he was going to get a chance to be a bullpen piece, and he’s shown improvement in that area, both in summer camp and the first two outings today.
• After a scoreless eighth from Jonathan Hernandez, Jose Leclerc labored through a ninth that saw him give up a run on a pair of hits and a walk. Leclerc’s consistency continues to be a cause for concern.
• Unlike yesterday, when the Rangers had chances but just didn’t take advantage of them, the Rangers flat didn’t hit today. Joey Gallo homered, Rob Refsnyder doubled, Nick Solak had a pair of singles, and Elvis Andrus had a bunt hit. That, combined with walks to Todd Frazier, Robinson Chirinos and Joey Gallo, was it for the offense today.
• Joey Gallo had two of the three hardest hit balls today for Texas — 109.1 EV on his home run and 102.0 on a ground out. Nick Solak was the only other Ranger to break 100 on an EV today, with 103.9 on a single.
• The eight hardest pitches of the game came from Jonathan Hernandez, with those eight ranging from 95.8 to 97.2 (twice). Ian Gibaut had three fastballs the were between 95-96, and Jose Leclerc topped out at 95.1.
• Off day tomorrow. Those always suck after a loss. Let’s see if Texas can take two against Arizona.