Thoughts on a 7-4 Rangers win

Rangers 7, Orioles 4

• And the Rangers avoid the ignominy of losing a series to the Baltimore Orioles.
• This was a nice little win. Texas never trailed, taking a 2-0 lead in the fourth, letting Baltimore tie it up in the bottom of the inning, re-gaining the lead in the top of the fifth, then adding to the lead in the seventh or eighth before things got mildly interesting in the bottom of the ninth. But really, not stressful, good things happened, a win was accomplished.
• Dane Dunning started and had a very un-Dunning-like outing. Going 4.2 IP, Dunning allowed just a single hit, but it was a two run home run that accounted for the two runs in the fourth we mentioned above. He did walk five batters, though, which is very out of character, while also striking out five. Dunning walked one batter in every inning he pitched, and also threw in an HBP for good measure.
• Im guessing Dunning goes in one of the final two games of the season against Cleveland, either next Saturday or next Sunday, probably for 4-5 innings. Dunning has a 4.32 ERA and a 3.96 FIP, and all in all had a quietly successful year. He’s the one pitcher who, as of now, we can say (barring injury) will be in the Ranger rotation next year. Now just four more spots to fill...
• Jharel Cotton, Dennis Santana and Spencer Patton got things to the ninth with no runs allowed, and then Kolby Allard was given the chance to finish things out. He didn’t finish things out, I regret to inform you. Allard started the inning allowing a single and a homer, making it a 7-4 game, then issued a two out walk. Chris Woodward decided to pull the plug, going to Joe Barlow for the final out.
• Its the latest in a disappointing second half for Allard, who has seen his ERA balloon to 5.53 on the year, due in large part to too many home runs.
• Lots of positive stuff from the bats. Andy Ibanez had a single and a homer, the home run giving the Rangers their first two runs of the game. Willie Calhoun, in dire need of a good game, had a double and a triple, hopefully setting the stage for a strong final week from him. Leody Taveras and Adolis Garcia each had two hit games. While it’s not set in stone, one has to think those two are likely to be in the Rangers’ outfield on Opening Day in 2022.
• Dane Dunning maxed out at 92.1 mph with his sinker, averaging 90.4 mph. Jharel Cotton hit 94.4 mph with his four seamer. Spencer Patton reached 94.7 with his four seamer, while Dennis Santana’s sinker hit 95.0 mph. 91.7 and 93.9 were the Max numbers for Kolby Allard and Joe Barlow, respectively.
• Leody Taveras’s singles were 105.9 and 103.7 off the bat. Yonny Hernandez had a GIDP that was 106.3 mph. Nathaniel Lowe had a 105.1 mph single. Willie Calhoun’s triple was 104.0 mph. Andy Ibanez hit his homer with a 101.0 mph exit velocity, and Isiah Kiner-Falefa had a 100.0 mph groundout.
• Monday is the final off day of the season. A week from today the Rangers’ season will be over. Let’s enjoy the last six games.