That's the way baseball goYes, it's scary to see Neftali Feliz struggle and blow another save. Yes, it sucks to lose 2-1 to split a series with Kansas City.
However, you have to look at it this way: You asking Derek Holland and/or Neftali Feliz to pitch a complete game shutout.
Granted, it's the year of the pitching and asking a pitcher to throw a shutout is not out of the question. At some point, you hope that the offense is able to plate a couple of more runs.
Holland was brilliant last night. If not for him, the Rangers bullpen would be in complete shambles. He went eight allowing a run, striking out five and walking just one. It was not pristine, but with a little help from the offense, he gets a win. It's his second-straight good start allowing just three runs in his last 14 innings.
Still, it came down to three outs from Feliz in the ninth.
For one, I really don't know if it was necessary to pull Holland. I won't nitpick. He was at 113 pitches and had allowed his ninth hit. But he'd also induced two double plays and pitched himself out of some trouble already.
Two, I don't know how wise it was bringing in Feliz. He'd throw 26 pitches the night before and it was his first back-to-back since returning from the disabled list. And he hasn't been that good since coming back, basically throwing a wild fastball again and again. Problem is, it's not missing bats.
Meanwhile, the offense mustered six hits, two walks and an 0-14 turd in the top three spots. The offense was a solo home run from clean-up hitter Chris Davis (his third, he's hitting .255).
As a side note, doesn't it seem that the Rangers have thrown out an inordinate amount of baserunners. Yorvit Torrealba threw two out last night and a third on Wednesday. Then there's Feliz' pick-offs the other night. Need to investigate.
