Photo Courtesy: Brendan Marsh
After winning only one of three on the road against the Minnesota Twins, the Texas Rangers are now on a hot winning streak after they successfully swept the Tampa Bay Rays in a three-game home stand in Arlington. That makes four in a row for the good guys!
The Rangers’ series in Minnesota was not the way they thought it would be. Minnesota was returning from a terrible road trip with a 1-6 record, and it seemed as if the Rangers would easily win the series, but after Minnesota narrowly escaped in Game 1, it only got worse for the Rangers in Game 2 of the series as they were dismantled 11-1 with Nick Martinez giving up eleven hits, seven runs in just 3.2 innings that resulted in him being pulled early and being sent back to AAA Round Rock. The Rangers did manage to avoid being swept after winning Game 3 with a score of 6-5 even though they found themselves down 4-0 in the bottom of the second inning. After coming back from behind, a glimmer of hope found itself in the Rangers’ mission to the playoffs.
By sweeping the Rays, the Rangers are now just four games back behind the Houston Astros for first place in the A.L. West standings. With the Rangers being on a four-game win streak and catching up to the Astros, not only is a Wild Card playoff berth still possible, but they can still somehow and someway win the division as they still have two more series against the Angels and Astros who are both ahead of the Rangers. If the Rangers continue to win their series for the rest of the season and if they sweep a few teams as well, then they will truly have an incredible comeback.
Now that the Rangers have driven the Tampa Bay Rays out of Texas, they will now have a three-game series at home against the Seattle Mariners. Cole Hamels will be on the mound for the Rangers and will be looking for his first win in a Texas Rangers uniform.
The series starts tonight, and the Rangers will look to keep fighting for first place.
Upcoming Schedule – Central Time
8/17 vs Mariners 7:05 pm
8/18 vs Mariners 7:05 pm
8/19 vs Mariners 1:05 pm
8/20 @Tigers 6:08 pm
8/21 @Tigers 6:08 pm
8/22 @Tigers 6:08 pm
8/23 @Tigers 12:08 pm
