Rangers Beat Red Sox In Alexi Ogando’s Return

The box score won’t impress you.

The offense produced 3 runs on 7 hits, and the pitching staff allowed an unsightly 7 walks, but somehow the Rangers still managed stave off the Red Sox on Wednesday night, 3-2.

In his first start since May 15th, Alexi Ogando (4-2) was decent — if not solid — going 5.2 innings, surrendering only one Boston run (which came on literally the weakest home run you may ever see). He did give up 3 walks, but Alexi made up for it by only spotting the Red Sox 3 hits. He struck out 6 batters.

Ironically, in his worst relief appearance since being recalled from Round Rock, Neal Cotts (1-0) netted his first victory of the season, and boy did he earn it;

He faced 4 hitters — 3 walked, and the other he struck out.

This, ladies and gentleman, is why W-L records are so misleading for pitchers.

At the same time, if you look at the ERA’s of our bullpen, they are Holy Shit good. Following Ogando were Cotts, Robbie Ross, Tanner Scheppers and Joe Nathan;

Respectively their Earned Run Average’s read: 1.04, 1.37, 0.93, 1.85.

As an observer, I’m not sure if I should be ecstatic about those numbers, or extremely worried. We know how erratic relievers can be, and how much variance is involved with pitchers performing in such short bursts. Part of me is wondering when the clock will strike midnight on guys like Robbie Ross (3.67 xFIP), Tanner Scheppers (4.57 xFIP), and Joe Nathan (3.73 xFIP), who basically constitute 100% of the backend of the Rangers bullpen.

Adrian Beltre hit his 12th home run of the year.

Elvis Andrus provided the game-winning hit, a two-run double off the Green Monster.

Tonight Derek Holland takes on Jon Lester in the finale of the season series with Boston, which, with a victory, would make Texas 5-1 on the year. The division lead stands at +1.5 games.