Thoughts on an 8-4 Rangers loss

Astros 8, Rangers 4

• After two very solid games in Houston, one a win, one a loss, and Lance Lynn getting the start today, it appeared that the Rangers might escape this series at Minute Maid Park without a real clunker. ‘Twas not to be.
• Lance Lynn gave up 8 home runs in 3 games at Minute Maid last year, more than he allowed in any other park, including TBiA. He allowed 2 home runs there today. Let’s see if we can’t avoid him pitching there when possible.
• A four run first inning put Texas in a big hole early, with Almedys Diaz landing the big blow, a two out, three run home run — as I have always said, the most momentum-shifting play in baseball. Lynn went from escaping with just one run allowed in the first to giving up more runs in that inning than he had in any game this year prior to today.
• Lynn, nonetheless, made it through six innings, with 111 pitches, striking out seven, walking two, and making clear his displeasure at the strike zone. He now has a 2.67 ERA, which is really good.
• Brett Martin made his first appearance since returning from the injured list, and threw a scoreless inning.
• Nick Goody faced four batters in the eighth, allowed two hits, and was pulled for Luis Garcia, who allowed those two hitters to score on a Michael Brantley double before retiring the final batter to end the inning. There’s a certain symmetry to Brantley driving home a pair of runners Goody that went on Goody’s ledger, as Goody allowed a pair of inherited runners to score in the first game of the series when Brantley homered off of him.
• There’s also a certain symmetry in Luis Garcia pitching as the opener in Game 1 of this series and being the last Ranger pitcher in the final game of the series.
• Anyway, speaking of pitching, speculation is that John King, currently part of the taxi squad traveling with the team, will be added to the active and 40 man roster to tag-team tomorrow with scheduled starter Kyle Cody, who is expected to go around three innings. Seeing those two will be worth watching tomorrow.
• The Rangers went with the John Blake Peckaway Theory in trying to get back to the game, scoring single runs in four different innings, but the Peckaway Theory requires you to not allow the other team to score, after taking a big lead, as many runs the rest of the way as you score all game.
• Nick Solak had a big game, going three for three with a pair of doubles. Jose Trevino had a single and a double. Shin-Soo Choo homered. Elvis Andrus and Isiah Kiner-Falefa singled.
• On the flip side, Joey Gallo was hitless, though he drew a walk. The same was true for Leody Taveras and Ronald Guzman. Eli White was 0 for 4, and is still looking for his first major league hit.
• Nick Solak’s doubles had EVs of 106.5 and 106.2. Choo’s homer was 103.7 mph off the bat. Jose Trevino’s double was 102.9.
• Lance Lynn continued to show surprising velocity, topping out at 96.9. Luis Garcia hit 98 in his brief appearance. Brett Martin topped out at 94.8.
• A disappointing ending to what had been a well played series by the Rangers. I am looking forward to Kyle Cody and, hopefully, John King on the mound tomorrow.