Thoughts on a 6-4 Rangers win

Rangers 6, Rays 4

• And that’s a series win. On the road, no less.
• Pretty solid work from Jordan Lyles as the first half of the tandem tonight, going 5.2 IP, striking out 4 and allowing 3 runs. Wes Benjamin as the second half of the tandem was uncharacteristically wild, however, walking four of the eight batters he faced, and allowing the Rays to score the tying run.
• That fourth Rays run was a weird one. Jose Trevino threw down to second to try to pick off Brett Phillips, who was a bit far off second, and might have gotten him if the throw was not well to the shortstop side of the bag, resulting in Phillips heading to third as Leody Taveras tracked the ball down. Leody had a chance to get Phillips at third, but the throw hit him and caromed away, allowing Phillips to score.
• The run was nonetheless earned, as Benjamin walked three batters in the inning, and reliever Brett de Geus walked a fourth, which means even had the shenanigans not occurred Phillips would have been forced in.
• With the Rangers seemingly poised to blow the game, the bullpen came to the rescue. De Geus, Taylor Hearn, Josh Sborz and Ian Kennedy combined for 3.1 shutout innings.
• Three homers today for the Rangers. Nick Solak had a bomb as part of a three hit day, as did The Culb, Charlie Culberson. But the key hit was from Adolis Garcia, who went deep in the tenth for his first major league home run, a two run shot making it 6-4. After being robbed yesterday, having his first major league homer taken from him twice on the same play, he came up big today.
• It seems like a long time ago that the Rangers had lost four in a row, had been no hit in one of those games and shut out a couple more times, and were facing more punishment at the hands of the Rays. Things can turn around quickly.
• I’m tired so I’m going to sleep now. Y’all be good.