Thoughts on a 4-2 Rangers loss

Twins 4, Rangers 2

• And the Rangers go winless for the week.
• Dane Dunning had problems right away, as has often been the case. The first four batters of the game went single-home run-single-single, meaning Dunning has now allowed 18 first innings runs this season.
• Dunning allowed two more runs in the third, one of which was unearned due to a Joey Gallo error. Dunning has now allowed 34 runs in odd numbered innings this year, versus one run in an even numbered inning.
• Dunning wasn’t good today. He did get 5 Ks in 4 IP, walking two, but he also allowed ten hits. As is often the case when he doesn’t pitch well, he couldn’t command his slider, and ended up not getting as many swings on it as usual, and allowing some loud contact off of it.
• Texas relievers shut the Twins down over the final five innings, at least. Taylor Hearn threw two shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out one. Brett de Geus appeared in just his third game in June, and his fourth appearance in the last thirty three days. He struck out two in a shutout inning, though, so that’s good. Joely Rodriguez and Spencer Patton each threw a scoreless inning as well.
• So the Rangers bullpen came threw and kept Texas in the game, but the offense didn’t produce. Both runs came in the sixth, courtesy of back to back home runs by Adolis Garcia and Joey Gallo. That was one-third of the Rangers hits for the day.
• Gallo went 2 for 3 with a walk. Adolis added a double to his homer. Nate Lowe and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each had hits. The rest of the lineup — the five through nine spots — went 0 for 18 with a walk.
• You are not going to win many games scoring just two runs.
• Dane Dunning hit 92.0 mph on his two seamer today. Taylor Hearn had the highest velocity for a Ranger pitcher, at 98.5 mph. Joely Rodriguez hit 95.5 mph. Brett de Geus reached 94.2 mph. Spencer Patton reached 93.1 mph.
• The two home runs were the only two balls the Rangers hit today that cracked 100 mph in exit velocity. Joey Gallo’s was 111.4 mph, and Adolis Garcia’s homer was 104.3. Brock Holt had outs of 99.5 and 98.3 mph. No one else reached as much as 96 mph in exit velocity.
• Bah. This whole series was displeasing. I curse it, and it’s children, and it’s children’s children.