Rangers 8, Rays 6: For Shame, Big Game James, For Shame

Yikes

Until James Shields fell apart in the home half of the fourth, things looked pretty desperate for Texas: in the first, Derek Holland walked Kelly Shoppach with the bases loaded, which is totally the least auspicious way to allow a run (with a balk, at least, there is the relief of novelty), and in the top of the fourth Holland got two quick outs before he threw the ball away trying to get Casey Kotchman at first and promptly surrendered a two-run shot off the bat of Matt Joyce. So, not only were the Rangers down by three, but they were down by three runs scored in galling circumstances. However! Shields just totally lost it in the fourth, hitting two batters and throwing two wild pitches to go with three singles in the inning. That wasn't quite enough for the Rangers, because Evan Longoria, who continues to insist on being ridiculous, launched a three-run homer in the seventh, so as it turned out it was totally worthwhile for Ian Kinsler to knock in a couple with a double in the sixth. Good job, everybody except James Shields! (Also Koji Uehara.)

KS