Thoughts on an 11-3 Rangers loss

Angels 11, Rangers 3

• I’ve done a lot of “Thoughts” posts the past few years after Rangers wins, and I’ve done a lot of “Thoughts” posts the past few years after Rangers losses, and I have to say, I prefer doing them after wins.
• The Rangers followed up what Chris Woodward described as their best game of the year on Monday with a performance Tuesday that was not their best of the year. It was, in fact, pretty ugly.
• The Rangers got on the board in the bottom of the second with a run. In the top of the third, Jordan Lyles gave up a lead off single to David Fletcher, fanned Shohei Ohtani, allowed a stolen base, threw a wild pitch, walked Justin Upton, and then fanned Max Stassi, bringing up Phil Gosselin.
• Gosselin hit a slow roller to shortstop that Isiah Kiner-Falefa took his time on, then, apparently realizing his mistake, rushed his throw to first on. Gosselin beat it out, and rather than the Rangers getting a third out and preserving the lead, the inning was still going and a run was in. Jo Adell then doubled in the runners, making it a 3-1 game.
• Kiner-Falefa had another error later in the game on a bad throw in the seventh trying to turn a double play that cost a run. He was also 0 for 4 in the game, continuing what has been a lengthy slump.
• IKF has started all but three games this season. Two of the three games he didn’t start, he pinch hit in, and he has played every inning of every game he has started. He’s also not the biggest guy. I don’t think there’s a lack of effort or want issue with IKF — he was named the winner of the team’s Heart and Hustle Award before the game — but I do have to wonder if it wouldn’t make sense for him to get more days off over the course of the season. It may be that with a young team and building a culture and wins and losses being less important, having IKF out there every day even if he is wearing down as an example of work ethic and the like is seen as having value. From the outside, though, it would seem to make sense to give Charlie Culberson a start at shortstop once a week the rest of the way.
• Anyway, Lyles gave up another run in the fifth and two more on a home run in the sixth, and while an Andy Ibanez home run in the bottom of the sixth made it 6-3 and briefly gave rise to hope, a four run seventh, stemming from Dennis Santana allowing two walks and three singles without retiring anyone to start the inning, then the IKF error when Brett Martin got a potential double play ball, made it a blowout.
• Brett Martin continued to do his thing out of the pen, throwing two shutout innings. Josh Sborz allowed a run in the ninth, but it didn’t matter by then.
• The Rangers only had six hits on the game, and one walk, so the fact they even scored three runs is kind of impressive. Adolis Garcia had a single and a double. Newly acquired D.J. Peters had a single and drew the walk. Curtis Terry had a hit to extend his hitting streak to two games, and Jose Trevino doubled. That was about it.
• Jordan Lyles hit 95.0 mph on his four seamer. Josh Sborz reached 97.3 mph with his four seamer. Dennis Santana maxed out at 96.9 mph on his outing. Brett Martin hit 93.3 mph.
• Curtis Terry had a 106.4 mph lineout that was the hardest hit ball for the Rangers on Tuesday. Jose Trevino’s double was 104.9 mph. That was it for 100+ exit velocities for the Rangers. Ibanez’s homer was 98.5, and Eli White had a 99.1 mph lineout, though.
• So the winning streak ends at 3. Let us start a new one on Wednesday.