Thoughts on a 7-4 Rangers win

Rangers 7, D-Backs 4

• That’s more like it.
• Lance Lynn did Lance Lynn things today. 6 IP, 1 hit, 2 walks, 8 Ks, 0 runs. The one mild surprise is that he didn’t come out for the seventh, since he was just at 102 pitches.
• Lynn has allowed 0 runs in 12 IP to start the season, and our collective reaction is to kind of shrug and say, well, yeah, of course he did, he’s Lance Lynn.
• The bullpen, unfortunately, tried to blow it. Jesse Chavez came into the game for the seventh to protect a 2-0 lead and promptly allowed an infield single and an opposite field double to start the inning. After getting a strikeout, Chavez allowed an RBI single, and then a sacrifice fly to left field where there was a chance at a play at home with a good throw, but which was moot when Aroldis Garcia airmailed the ball. Chavez got out of the inning, but the score was tied.
• Jonathan Hernandez came on for the eighth and untied things. After starting the inning with a strikeout, Hernandez hit Kole Calhoun on the foot with a pitch that was initially called a ball, but which went to replay and resulted in Calhoun being given first. A Tim Locastro triple to center gave Arizona the lead, and then a comebacker ended up being an infield single rather than an out, meaning that the ensuing fly ball from David Peralta was a sac fly rather than the third out.
• Fortunately the bottom of the eighth went well, and Nick Goody retired the side in order in the ninth to end the game. Unfortunately, Goody pitched the ninth because Jose Leclerc had shoulder tightness when he started warming up, and had to sit back down. Leclerc will be re-evaluated tomorrow, per the club, but you have to think an injured list stint is coming for Leclerc.
• The bats also had a decent game, finally. The offense took a while to warm up, but Todd Frazier homered in the fourth to give the Rangers their first hit of the game and the lead.
• The fifth looked like it might be a big inning, as Texas got on the board courtesy of an Isiah Kiner-Falefa single, a stolen base, an advancement to third on a fly out, and a Jose Trevino RBI single. Elvis Andrus then singled, advancing Trevino (aggressively, and surprisingly) to third. Nick Solak hit a slow chopper to third that, with one out and a runner on first, Trevino probably should have tried to score on (since if he was out there would be runners on first and second with two outs, little different than there being runners on first and third with two outs). Trevino stayed put, however, Elvis was forced, and Rougned Odor struck out looking to end the inning.
• Todd Frazier double in the sixth, but was left stranded. Elvis walked and advanced to second on a wild pitch in the seventh, but was left stranded.
• But in the eighth, Texas hitters finally put up a crooked number in an inning, after having failed to do so in the first four games. Rougned Odor started off 0-2 to lead off the inning before working a walk. Joey Gallo got to two strikes as well before stroking an opposite field home run to left center to tie up the game. Todd Frazier doubled, and then pinch hitter Shin-soo Choo was intentionally walked. IKF hit what looked like it would be a 6-4-3 GIDP, but the D-Backs only got the runner at second, meaning there were runners on the corners with one out.
• Willie Calhoun came in to pinch hit but struck out swinging on a 3-2 slider. IKF stole second, Jose Trevino walked, and Elvis Andrus drilled a single to center that brought a pair of runners home. Nick Solak followed that up with an RBI single and then stole second. After Odor drew his second walk of the inning, loading the bases, Gallo had a chance to turn it into a blowout. He flew out instead, saving his bombs for when they are really needed.
• The homers by Joey Gallo and Todd Frazier were the top exit velocities of the game, coming in at 106.3 and 105.3, respectively. Nick Solak registered 103.5 on a fly out, and Frazier had a 102.9 on his double and a 100.0 on a fly out.
• Jonathan Hernandez and Lance Lynn combined for the 21 fastest pitches by either team today. Hernandez topped out at 98.4 mph, and also had a 98.2 mph pitch, three pitches at 97.9, and three at 97.3. Lynn hit 97.2, and had nine other pitches that were 96 mph or faster.
• Texas goes into the off day with a win, and has their first road game Friday. We like wins.