Thoughts on a 10-2 Rangers loss

Jays 10, Rangers 2

• That was an unpleasant start to the second half.
• Jordan Lyles has pitched better of late. He had a 4.86 ERA in the first half, and was for the most part a serviceable placeholder in the rotation.
• Lyles took a step back on Friday, though, with six runs allowed in four innings of work. That included four home runs — the second time this season he’s allowed four home runs in a game. The other time was that game in Houston where he tossed the ball over Chris Woodward’s head.
• Lyles followed that game up with four quality starts. So maybe that happens again here? Probably not.
• Lyles in second in the American League in home runs allowed in 2021. In third place is Blue Jays pitcher Robbie Ray, who didn’t give up any home runs (or any runs at all) in 6.2 innings on Friday. The leader in home runs allowed, of course, is Mike Foltynewicz.
• The Rangers have preached challenging hitters, throwing strikes and trusting your stuff to the pitching staff. Homers may be a side effect of that.
• Joe Barlow threw a scoreless inning in the fifth. He hadn’t pitched since last Wednesday, and only has four innings of work since being called up on June 23.
• Dennis Santana handled the sixth and seventh. I don’t think anyone was optimistic about a comeback anyway, but a four run sixth off of Santana, capped by Vlad Junior’s second homer of the day, made things a blowout. Not a great outing for Santana.
• Brett Martin needed six pitches for a shutout eighth, and lowered his ERA to 2.52 in what has been a quietly effective season.
• The bats were blah. Doubles by Nick Solak and Charlie Culberson. Singles by Jonah Heim, Andy Ibanez and Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Nate Lowe had two walks. Eli White, who also had a walk in the game, saved the Rangers from being shut out with a two out home run in the ninth.
• It was a pretty unpleasant game.
• Charlie Culberson’s double was 103.5 mph off the bat. Andy Ibanez’s single had a 103.4 mph exit velocity, and he also had a 99.5 mph lineout. Jonah Heim had a 102.8 mph ground out and a 101.4 mph line out. Adolis Garcia had a 101.6 mph fly out. Eli White’s home run was 101.4 mph.
• Dennis Santana hit 96.6 mph on his fastball. Joe Barlow, Jordan Lyles and Brett Martin topped out at 95.4 mph, 95.3 mph and 95.2 mph, respectively.
• Anyway. Bleah. Let’s not think about this game. Let’s think about Justin Foscue instead.