Y&T: Because you need more Yorvit in your lifeLet's go with today. Colby Lewis pitched a sterling eight-inning, four-hit, no-run eight-strikeout start today going toe to toe with David Price. The Rangers won, 3-0.
Lewis assaulted the strike zone (four straight starts with 66 percent strikes thrown, per Evan Grant) with his typical fastball-slider-change up arsenal and it's continued a string of good or great starts for Lewis after his series of goofs to start the year. He's gone at least six innings in each of the last seven starts. He's gone at least eight innings in four of those.
Most importantly (maybe), Lewis has stopped giving up the home run. For the season, he's allowed 13 home runs in 75 innings. Only three of those have come in the last 45 innings.
Did you know: That Rangers pitchers have allowed the most home runs in Major League Baseball with 82?
Home runs have been an issue. As many as the Rangers have hit, it seems they are matched by their opponents.
Yesterday, C.J. Wilson pitched a fine game. He allowed three total hits. Two of those were home runs, including a game-tying dinger from Matt Joyce in the seventh inning.
In the eighth inning, Mark Lowe was replaced on the mound with lefty Arthur Rhodes to face lefty Johnny Damon, who singled. Instead of bringing in a righty to face Evan Longoria (a hunky righty), Ron Washington had no one warming. Rhodes pitched. Longoria hits a game-winning two-run home run.
Washington admitted his mistake. Doesn't matter. It happened and it doesn't need to happen any more. The fact that things like this happen quite a bit is insane. Doesn't Washington have Mike Maddux in the dugout giving the skipper instruction? Again, insane.
In other news, Lowe turned in another promising outing Tuesday and Neftali Feliz required 16 pitches (10 of them strikes) today to get his latest save. Maybe this pitching staff is rounding into form.
Notes:
1. The Rangers have won three straight series. Their first on the road since Baltimore in April.
2. How many big, important hits has Elvis Andrus had this year?
3. Rangers have stolen seven bases in two games.
4. Nelson Cruz collected three hits today. All singles.
