Thoughts on a 12-1 Rangers win

Rangers 12, Dodgers 1

• Well, that was unexpected.
• That was also a hell of a way to stop the seemingly neverending road losing streak.
• And it also is worth noting that there’s a certain symmetry between this game and Friday’s game, which was a 12-1 Dodgers win. Texas ended up having an infielder pitch the final inning of Friday’s loss, and the Dodgers had an infielder pitch in the final inning of this game.
• Of course, the Rangers could have, maybe should have, had more runs but for baserunning problems, including having a run scored by Adolis Garcia being taken off the board because he didn’t touch third base. But twelve runs is still pretty good.
• Not to be overlooked in the offensive explosion was the start from Kolby Allard. Making his third start of the year — and his first start of the year where the Rangers didn’t get shut out — Allard went five shutout innings, allowing five hits and one walk, striking out four. In his three starts this season, Allard has logged fourteen innings, struck out fourteen batters, walked three, and allowed four runs on ten hits, including two home runs.
• Of course, Allard got the nod for a rotation spot due to his strong work this season, and he is now sporting a 2.91 ERA on the year, with a 3.30 FIP.
• Allard didn’t generate a ton of swings and misses — 8 in 91 pitches — but he also wasn’t giving up a bunch of hard contact. The only hitter to have an exit velocity above 95 mph against Allard was Justin Turner, who did it twice. It was an impressive outing for Allard against a strong lineup stacked with righthanded hitters.
• The Rangers’ bullpen took over for Allard in the sixth and there was little drama from there. Demarcus Evans, Taylor Hearn, Josh Sborz and Joely Rodriguez pitched an inning apiece, with the only hit being a home run off of Hearn.
• The Rangers got on the board in the third with a pair of runs in what could have been a bigger inning. Isiah Kiner-Falefa reached on an error by Mookie Betts, then stole second. After a Willie Calhoun strikeout, Adolis Garcia doubled IKF home. Joey Gallo then singled, and Adolis appeared to score, but because he passed third base, then touched third again as he momentarily looked at heading back before then shifting directions and going home, but didn’t touch third a third time when he went back, he was called out for not touching third. Gallo stole second and then scored on a Nate Lowe single where Lowe was thrown out at second.
• The Rangers added a pair of runs in the fourth on a Jonah Heim two run home run, then two more in the seventh on a Kiner-Falefa double followed by a Willie Calhoun triple and an Adolis Garcia single. Nate Lowe doubled with two outs, advancing Garcia to third, but the pair were stranded on an Eli White fly out.
• The Rangers picked up a couple more runs in the eighth, and then finished it off in the ninth with a pair of two run home runs from Nate Lowe and Jason Martin. Lowe’s homer chased Nate Jones and led the Dodgers to bring in newly promoted infielder Andy Burns to pitch, so Martin’s home run — the first of his major league career — was off a position player. It counts, though.
• A bunch of hitters had big games who needed big games. Lowe, mired in a month long slump, was 3 for 5. Jonah Heim, who has been in a season long slump, also was 3 for 5, and like Lowe was a triple short of the cycle. Isiah Kiner-Falefa had three hits and three stolen bases, Adolis Garcia had a pair of hits, and Joey Gallo had two hits and two walks.
• Josh Sborz touched 98.6 mph with his four seamer in his outing against his former team. Taylor Hearn hit 97.7 mph on his four seamer. Joely Rodriguez topped out at 94.9 mph with his sinker. Demarcus Evans maxed out at 93.6 mph on his fastball, and Kolby Allard hit 92.7 mph with his four seamer.
• Nate Lowe had the two hardest hit balls of the night for the Rangers, with a 111.2 mph single and a 107.2 mph home run. Lowe also had a 98.7 mph fly out and a 97.2 mph double. Jason Martin’s home run was 105.4 mph, and he also had a single at 103.7 mph and a fly out at 100.6 mph. Jonah Heim’s home run was 105.2 mph, and his double left the bat at 104.9 mph. Adolis Garcia had an exit velocity of 103.4 mph on a double. Eli White didn’t have a hit in the game, but he had outs at 102.7 mph and 99.0 mph.
• The horrid, never-ending road losing streak is over. We can all sleep easily again. Now to see if the Rangers can somehow manage to take the series with a win on Sunday.