Thoughts on an 8-3 Rangers win

Rangers 8, A’s 3

• Well that was fun.
• The Rangers got lots of hits and scored lots of runs and their pitchers pitched well. Yeah, Oakland score a few runs but not until late when it was already a blowout.
• That’s a great way to finish off your first series win in Oakland in five years.
• Dane Dunning went four shutout innings, and was lifted at just 68 pitches, apparently at least in part due to a desire to get John King, who was slated to come in after Dunning, stretched out with some innings. Dunning, interestingly enough, went away from his slider, which is normally his best pitch — he only threw it 7 times, generating no whiffs. He relied mostly on his sinker, which he threw over half the time, and his knuckle curve, which Oakland never swung at, resulting in 10 balls and 3 called strikes.
• In any case, Dunning allowed three hits, walked two, struck out four, and generated a lot of weak contact. His ERA on the year is now 4.38.
• John King pitched the three-plus innings after Dunning, and retired the first nine batters he faced. Things then got weird.
• Tony Kemp, leading off against King in the 8th, reached on a 2-2 HBP. Matt Chapman then walked on a 3-2 pitch. That damn Frank Schwindel guy who hit the home run yesterday then pinch hit for Matt Olson. He hit a weak 3-2 tapper back to King for what should have been a GIDP. King made an awful throw to second, though, bouncing it well in front of the bag and well off line glove side, resulting in a run scoring. Brett Martin then came in the game and gave up a first pitch double, bringing two more runs home.
• So if you are scoring at home, King allowed 3 runs, 2 earned, in 3 IP on no hits and one walk. He’s now sporting a 2.86 ERA.
• Martin then retired the next three batters on five pitches, meaning he worked one inning, faced four batters, and threw six pitches.
• Spencer Patton pitched a scoreless ninth, and on field hugs ensued.
• Adolis Garcia and Joey Gallo got things started in the first, when Garcia thumped a two out double, stole third and score on Gallo’s single. Nate Lowe made it a 2-0 Rangers lead with a lead off homer in the fourth. Texas then homered in the fifth, sixth and seventh, with Joey Gallo hitting a two run shot, John Hicks hitting a solo homer and Nate Lowe crushing a two run bomb. Eli White gave the Rangers their final run on an eighth inning RBI single.
• Ever Ranger starter got a hit. Joey Gallo was three for three with a walk. Nate Lowe had a walk to go with his two home runs. Eli White had a pair of hits. The only Ranger hitter in the game who didn’t get a hit was David Dahl, just activated from the injured list today, who popped out in the eighth while pinch hitting for Gallo.
• John King had the high velocity for a Ranger pitcher today, at 94.1 mph. Brett Martin reached 93.3 mph, while Dane Dunning topped out at 92.7.
• Joey Gallo had the three hardest hit Rangers balls of the day — 110.8 and 108.9 with his singles, and 107.0 mph on his home run. Nate Lowe’s home runs were 103.9 mph and 98.1 mph. John Hicks’ home run was 103.9 mph. Charlie Culberson had a 102.5 mph single, Isiah Kiner-Falefa had a 100.4 mph single, and Andy Ibanez had a 100.3 mph lineout.
• Im going to wallow in the good feelings from this win now.