Thoughts on a 3-1 Rangers loss

Rockies 3, Rangers 1

• That was not a good game for the good guys.
• Or a good series.
• This is one of those occasions where I’m not really sure what to say, other than I guess that these things happen over the course of a season.
• Texas actually got a really good effort from Jose Urena, who is being pressed into rotation duty due to all the starters currently on the injured list. 92 pitches in 6.2 innings pitched. A Quality Start, with the two runs he allowed coming on a pop fly that carried in the high mountain air all the way into the seats.
• The bullpen, on the other hand, was uninspiring. Jacob Latz, who I have been praising, retired just one of three batters he faced. Jonathan Hernandez came in with one on and no one out in the eighth and got a strike out and an inning ending GIDP. The only problem is that between those two events he issued three straight walks, one of which forced in a run.
• That walked in run ended up being irrelevant, though, because the Rangers could only score one run in the game. They didn’t lack for base runners — Texas had nine hits and two walks — but they continued to struggle to hit for power.
• Their best chance at an extra base hit came in the fifth, when Corey Seager crushed a ball that, per Statcast, had an exit velocity and launch angle such that it would be expected to be a hit 86% of the time.
• This was, of course, one of the 14 out of 100. It was caught, and no runs scored.
• Texas scored six runs in three games in this series, in Colorado, where more runs tend to be scored. The offense is better than this, even against lefthanders. But it is disappointing to waste an unexpected strong start by your #12, maybe?, starter like this.
• Jose Urena reached 96.7 mph on his sinker. Jacob Latz topped out at 95.3 mph on his fastball. Jonathan Hernandez’s sinker maxed out at 98.1 mph.
• Ezequiel Duran had a 108.1 mph single. Corey Seager had a 106.2 mph single and a 104.3 mph barreled fly out. Andrew Knizner had a 106.1 mph GIDP. Leody Taveras had a 102.6 mph single. Marcus Semien had a 102.1 mph single. Robbie Grossman had a 100.6 mph fly ou.
• At least that’s the end of this road trip. Texas returns to Arlington and gets to start anew against Cleveland on Monday.